diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 22eb772..d930957 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## v0.2.9 (2023-11-06)
+
+### Bug Fixes and Other Changes
+
+ * update: forcing explicit optional types
+
 ## v0.2.8 (2023-10-19)
 
 ### Bug Fixes and Other Changes
diff --git a/src/braket/_build_tools/_version.py b/src/braket/_build_tools/_version.py
index 2577797..a48243b 100644
--- a/src/braket/_build_tools/_version.py
+++ b/src/braket/_build_tools/_version.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 Version number (major.minor.patch[-label])
 """
 
-__version__ = "0.2.9.dev0"
+__version__ = "0.2.9"