diff --git a/.ci/scripts/skip_tests.py b/.ci/scripts/skip_tests.py
index 2a21a72..a68d000 100755
--- a/.ci/scripts/skip_tests.py
+++ b/.ci/scripts/skip_tests.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 DOC_PATTERNS = [
     r"^docs/",
     r"\.md$",
-    r"\.txt$",
     r"LICENSE.*",
     r"CHANGELOG.*",
     r"CHANGES.*",
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index c1c56a1..b69448e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -167,8 +167,11 @@ jobs:
           pip install towncrier
 
       - name: "Get release notes"
-        id: get_release_notes
+        id: "get_release_notes"
+        shell: "bash"
         run: |
+          # The last commit before the release commit contains the release CHANGES fragments
+          git checkout "${TAG_NAME}~"
           NOTES=$(towncrier build --draft --version $TAG_NAME)
           echo "body<<EOF" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "$NOTES" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT