diff --git a/.github/release-drafter-core.yml b/.github/release-drafter-core.yml
index 9154c6206..67569d0aa 100644
--- a/.github/release-drafter-core.yml
+++ b/.github/release-drafter-core.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include-paths:
   - src/fairchem/core/
 tag-prefix: fairchem_core
 name-template: 'fairchem_core_v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
-exclude-contributors: [github-actions, dependabot] 
+exclude-contributors: [github-actions] 
 categories:
   - title: New Features
     labels: [enhancement]
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ categories:
     labels: [test]
   - title: Deprecations
     labels: [deprecation]
+  - title: Dependencies
+    labels: [dependencies]
   - title: Other Changes
     labels: ["*"]
 version-resolver:
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ version-resolver:
   minor:
     labels:
       - 'minor'
+      - 'dependencies'
   patch:
     labels:
       - 'patch'
diff --git a/.github/release-drafter-data_demo_ocpapi.yml b/.github/release-drafter-data_demo_ocpapi.yml
index 99ab55a76..86dfb4541 100644
--- a/.github/release-drafter-data_demo_ocpapi.yml
+++ b/.github/release-drafter-data_demo_ocpapi.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include-paths:
   - src/fairchem/demo/ocpapi
 tag-prefix: fairchem_demo_ocpapi
 name-template: 'fairchem_demo_ocpapi_v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
-exclude-contributors: [github-actions, dependabot] 
+exclude-contributors: [github-actions] 
 categories:
   - title: New Features
     labels: [enhancement]
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ categories:
     labels: [test]
   - title: Deprecations
     labels: [deprecation]
+  - title: Dependencies
+    labels: [dependencies]
   - title: Other Changes
     labels: ["*"]
 version-resolver:
diff --git a/.github/release-drafter-data_oc.yml b/.github/release-drafter-data_oc.yml
index 92811fc42..12aa6f8c6 100644
--- a/.github/release-drafter-data_oc.yml
+++ b/.github/release-drafter-data_oc.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include-paths:
   - src/fairchem/data/oc
 tag-prefix: fairchem_data_oc
 name-template: 'fairchem_data_oc_v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
-exclude-contributors: [github-actions, dependabot] 
+exclude-contributors: [github-actions] 
 categories:
   - title: New Features
     labels: [enhancement]
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ categories:
     labels: [test]
   - title: Deprecations
     labels: [deprecation]
+  - title: Dependencies
+    labels: [dependencies]
   - title: Other Changes
     labels: ["*"]
 version-resolver:
diff --git a/.github/release-drafter_applications_cattsunami.yml b/.github/release-drafter_applications_cattsunami.yml
index 245a66461..e82525072 100644
--- a/.github/release-drafter_applications_cattsunami.yml
+++ b/.github/release-drafter_applications_cattsunami.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include-paths:
   - src/fairchem/applications/cattsunami
 tag-prefix: fairchem_applications_cattsunami
 name-template: 'fairchem_applications_cattsunami_v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
-exclude-contributors: [github-actions, dependabot] 
+exclude-contributors: [github-actions] 
 categories:
   - title: New Features
     labels: [enhancement]
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ categories:
     labels: [test]
   - title: Deprecations
     labels: [deprecation]
+  - title: Dependencies
+    labels: [dependencies]
   - title: Other Changes
     labels: ["*"]
 version-resolver:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/label_checker.yml b/.github/workflows/label_checker.yml
index e86ba09a0..216b4dcde 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/label_checker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/label_checker.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Labels not added (patch, minor, major)
-        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'patch') == false && contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'minor') == false && contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'major') == false
+      - name: Labels not added (patch, minor, major, dependencies)
+        if: >
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'patch') == false &&
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'minor') == false && 
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'major') == false && 
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'dependencies') == false
         run: exit 1
\ No newline at end of file