diff --git a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/dist/index.js b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/dist/index.js
index fe16fdd..97791a9 100644
--- a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/dist/index.js
+++ b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/dist/index.js
@@ -29251,9 +29251,9 @@ const validFooterPrefixes = [
 ];
 const validFooters = ['no qa needed', 'no qa required'];
 const validFooterPrefixRegex = new RegExp(`^(${validFooterPrefixes.join('|')}):? `, 'i');
+const validFooterRegex = new RegExp(`^(${validFooters.join('|')})`, 'i');
 function isValidFooter(footer) {
-    footer = footer.toLowerCase();
-    return validFooters.includes(footer) || validFooterPrefixRegex.test(footer);
+    return validFooterRegex.test(footer) || validFooterPrefixRegex.test(footer);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.test.ts b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.test.ts
index 8904177..1a8176d 100644
--- a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.test.ts
+++ b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.test.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ describe('isValidFooter', () => {
     'QA Notes ',
     'QA Notes: ',
     'No QA required',
-    'No QA needed'
+    'No QA needed',
+    'No QA required (test only)',
+    'No QA needed: validate as part of separate ticket'
   ]
 
   for (const validCase of validCases) {
diff --git a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.ts b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.ts
index 13ee41d..0d188c3 100644
--- a/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.ts
+++ b/.github/actions/semantic-pr-footer-v1/src/isValidFooter.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// These must appear with a suffix (eg, "fix #123" or "QA Notes: test X, Y, and Z")
 const validFooterPrefixes = [
   // Should accept all github terms that link an issue
   // @see https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue#linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue-using-a-keyword
@@ -15,14 +16,15 @@ const validFooterPrefixes = [
   'refs',
   'qa notes'
 ]
+
+// These may appear alone or with a suffix (eg, "no qa needed" or "no qa needed (test only)")
 const validFooters = ['no qa needed', 'no qa required']
 
 const validFooterPrefixRegex = new RegExp(
   `^(${validFooterPrefixes.join('|')}):? `,
   'i'
 )
+const validFooterRegex = new RegExp(`^(${validFooters.join('|')})`, 'i')
 export default function isValidFooter(footer: string): boolean {
-  footer = footer.toLowerCase()
-
-  return validFooters.includes(footer) || validFooterPrefixRegex.test(footer)
+  return validFooterRegex.test(footer) || validFooterPrefixRegex.test(footer)
 }