Try defining the template via body-file.

Author: ajaynes-godaddy

.github/workflows/prep-release.yml

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create pull request
         run: |
-          gh pr create -B "${BASE_BRANCH}" -H release/"${NEW_VERSION}" --title "Release v${NEW_VERSION}" --template "release.md" --draft
+          gh pr create -B "${BASE_BRANCH}" -H release/"${NEW_VERSION}" --title "Release v${NEW_VERSION}" --body-file ".github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md" --draft
         env:
           BASE_BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}