diff --git a/.github/release-please.yml b/.github/release-please.yml
index 5f3622675..801cc7dbe 100644
--- a/.github/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/release-please.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 releaseType: java-yoshi
 bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+handleGHRelease: true
 branches:
   - releaseType: java-lts
     bumpMinorPreMajor: true
diff --git a/gax-grpc/BUILD.bazel b/gax-grpc/BUILD.bazel
index a2ea32437..3a177f4ab 100644
--- a/gax-grpc/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/gax-grpc/BUILD.bazel
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ load("//:gax_java.bzl", "google_java_format", "google_java_format_verification",
 
 _JAVA_COPTS = [
     "-source",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
     "-target",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
 ]
 
 _COMPILE_DEPS = [
diff --git a/gax-httpjson/BUILD.bazel b/gax-httpjson/BUILD.bazel
index 9d9704ab6..f2e40f76a 100644
--- a/gax-httpjson/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/gax-httpjson/BUILD.bazel
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ load("//:gax_java.bzl", "google_java_format", "google_java_format_verification",
 
 _JAVA_COPTS = [
     "-source",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
     "-target",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
 ]
 
 _COMPILE_DEPS = [
diff --git a/gax/BUILD.bazel b/gax/BUILD.bazel
index d46b3c7a2..b9dd9a067 100644
--- a/gax/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/gax/BUILD.bazel
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ load("//:gax_java.bzl", "google_java_format", "google_java_format_verification",
 
 _JAVA_COPTS = [
     "-source",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
     "-target",
-    "1.7",
+    "1.8",
 ]
 
 _COMPILE_DEPS = [