diff --git a/.flake8 b/.flake8
index ed9316381c..29227d4cf4 100644
--- a/.flake8
+++ b/.flake8
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ exclude =
   *_pb2.py
 
   # Standard linting exemptions.
+  **/.nox/**
   __pycache__,
   .git,
   *.pyc,
diff --git a/.github/header-checker-lint.yml b/.github/header-checker-lint.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fc281c05bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/header-checker-lint.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"allowedCopyrightHolders": ["Google LLC"],
+ "allowedLicenses": ["Apache-2.0", "MIT", "BSD-3"],
+ "ignoreFiles": ["**/requirements.txt", "**/requirements-test.txt"],
+ "sourceFileExtensions": [
+ 	"ts", 
+ 	"js", 
+ 	"java", 
+ 	"sh", 
+ 	"Dockerfile", 
+ 	"yaml", 
+ 	"py",
+ 	"html",
+ 	"txt"
+ ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ac787a3b95..708cdcc9eb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -49,8 +49,10 @@ docs.metadata
 
 # Virtual environment
 env/
+
+# Test logs
 coverage.xml
-sponge_log.xml
+*sponge_log.xml
 
 # System test environment variables.
 system_tests/local_test_setup
diff --git a/.kokoro/build.sh b/.kokoro/build.sh
index a847a74a4f..2d206c3a1c 100755
--- a/.kokoro/build.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/build.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@
 
 set -eo pipefail
 
-cd github/python-spanner
+if [[ -z "${PROJECT_ROOT:-}" ]]; then
+    PROJECT_ROOT="github/python-spanner"
+fi
+
+cd "${PROJECT_ROOT}"
 
 # Disable buffering, so that the logs stream through.
 export PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
@@ -33,16 +37,26 @@ export PROJECT_ID=$(cat "${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/project-id.json")
 export GOOGLE_CLOUD_TESTS_CREATE_SPANNER_INSTANCE=true
 
 # Remove old nox
-python3.6 -m pip uninstall --yes --quiet nox-automation
+python3 -m pip uninstall --yes --quiet nox-automation
 
 # Install nox
-python3.6 -m pip install --upgrade --quiet nox
-python3.6 -m nox --version
+python3 -m pip install --upgrade --quiet nox
+python3 -m nox --version
+
+# If this is a continuous build, send the test log to the FlakyBot.
+# See https://github.com/googleapis/repo-automation-bots/tree/master/packages/flakybot.
+if [[ $KOKORO_BUILD_ARTIFACTS_SUBDIR = *"continuous"* ]]; then
+  cleanup() {
+    chmod +x $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
+    $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
+  }
+  trap cleanup EXIT HUP
+fi
 
 # If NOX_SESSION is set, it only runs the specified session,
 # otherwise run all the sessions.
 if [[ -n "${NOX_SESSION:-}" ]]; then
-    python3.6 -m nox -s "${NOX_SESSION:-}"
+    python3 -m nox -s ${NOX_SESSION:-}
 else
-    python3.6 -m nox
+    python3 -m nox
 fi
diff --git a/.kokoro/docs/docs-presubmit.cfg b/.kokoro/docs/docs-presubmit.cfg
index 1118107829..505636c275 100644
--- a/.kokoro/docs/docs-presubmit.cfg
+++ b/.kokoro/docs/docs-presubmit.cfg
@@ -15,3 +15,14 @@ env_vars: {
     key: "TRAMPOLINE_IMAGE_UPLOAD"
     value: "false"
 }
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "TRAMPOLINE_BUILD_FILE"
+    value: "github/python-spanner/.kokoro/build.sh"
+}
+
+# Only run this nox session.
+env_vars: {
+    key: "NOX_SESSION"
+    value: "docs docfx"
+}
diff --git a/.kokoro/samples/python3.6/periodic-head.cfg b/.kokoro/samples/python3.6/periodic-head.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9cfcd33e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kokoro/samples/python3.6/periodic-head.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Format: //devtools/kokoro/config/proto/build.proto
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "INSTALL_LIBRARY_FROM_SOURCE"
+    value: "True"
+}
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "TRAMPOLINE_BUILD_FILE"
+    value: "github/python-pubsub/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh"
+}
diff --git a/.kokoro/samples/python3.7/periodic-head.cfg b/.kokoro/samples/python3.7/periodic-head.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9cfcd33e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kokoro/samples/python3.7/periodic-head.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Format: //devtools/kokoro/config/proto/build.proto
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "INSTALL_LIBRARY_FROM_SOURCE"
+    value: "True"
+}
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "TRAMPOLINE_BUILD_FILE"
+    value: "github/python-pubsub/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh"
+}
diff --git a/.kokoro/samples/python3.8/periodic-head.cfg b/.kokoro/samples/python3.8/periodic-head.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9cfcd33e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kokoro/samples/python3.8/periodic-head.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Format: //devtools/kokoro/config/proto/build.proto
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "INSTALL_LIBRARY_FROM_SOURCE"
+    value: "True"
+}
+
+env_vars: {
+    key: "TRAMPOLINE_BUILD_FILE"
+    value: "github/python-pubsub/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh"
+}
diff --git a/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh b/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..4398b30ba4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright 2020 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+# A customized test runner for samples.
+#
+# For periodic builds, you can specify this file for testing against head.
+
+# `-e` enables the script to automatically fail when a command fails
+# `-o pipefail` sets the exit code to the rightmost comment to exit with a non-zero
+set -eo pipefail
+# Enables `**` to include files nested inside sub-folders
+shopt -s globstar
+
+cd github/python-spanner
+
+exec .kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh
diff --git a/.kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh b/.kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..cf5de74c17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+
+# `-e` enables the script to automatically fail when a command fails
+# `-o pipefail` sets the exit code to the rightmost comment to exit with a non-zero
+set -eo pipefail
+# Enables `**` to include files nested inside sub-folders
+shopt -s globstar
+
+# Exit early if samples directory doesn't exist
+if [ ! -d "./samples" ]; then
+  echo "No tests run. `./samples` not found"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# Disable buffering, so that the logs stream through.
+export PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
+
+# Debug: show build environment
+env | grep KOKORO
+
+# Install nox
+python3.6 -m pip install --upgrade --quiet nox
+
+# Use secrets acessor service account to get secrets
+if [[ -f "${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/secrets_viewer_service_account.json" ]]; then
+    gcloud auth activate-service-account \
+	   --key-file="${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/secrets_viewer_service_account.json" \
+	   --project="cloud-devrel-kokoro-resources"
+fi
+
+# This script will create 3 files:
+# - testing/test-env.sh
+# - testing/service-account.json
+# - testing/client-secrets.json
+./scripts/decrypt-secrets.sh
+
+source ./testing/test-env.sh
+export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=$(pwd)/testing/service-account.json
+
+# For cloud-run session, we activate the service account for gcloud sdk.
+gcloud auth activate-service-account \
+       --key-file "${GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS}"
+
+export GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRETS=$(pwd)/testing/client-secrets.json
+
+echo -e "\n******************** TESTING PROJECTS ********************"
+
+# Switch to 'fail at end' to allow all tests to complete before exiting.
+set +e
+# Use RTN to return a non-zero value if the test fails.
+RTN=0
+ROOT=$(pwd)
+# Find all requirements.txt in the samples directory (may break on whitespace).
+for file in samples/**/requirements.txt; do
+    cd "$ROOT"
+    # Navigate to the project folder.
+    file=$(dirname "$file")
+    cd "$file"
+
+    echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
+    echo "- testing $file"
+    echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
+
+    # Use nox to execute the tests for the project.
+    python3.6 -m nox -s "$RUN_TESTS_SESSION"
+    EXIT=$?
+
+    # If this is a periodic build, send the test log to the FlakyBot.
+    # See https://github.com/googleapis/repo-automation-bots/tree/master/packages/flakybot.
+    if [[ $KOKORO_BUILD_ARTIFACTS_SUBDIR = *"periodic"* ]]; then
+      chmod +x $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
+      $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
+    fi
+
+    if [[ $EXIT -ne 0 ]]; then
+      RTN=1
+      echo -e "\n Testing failed: Nox returned a non-zero exit code. \n"
+    else
+      echo -e "\n Testing completed.\n"
+    fi
+
+done
+cd "$ROOT"
+
+# Workaround for Kokoro permissions issue: delete secrets
+rm testing/{test-env.sh,client-secrets.json,service-account.json}
+
+exit "$RTN"
diff --git a/.kokoro/test-samples.sh b/.kokoro/test-samples.sh
index 86b7f9d906..19e3d5f529 100755
--- a/.kokoro/test-samples.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/test-samples.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+# The default test runner for samples.
+#
+# For periodic builds, we rewinds the repo to the latest release, and
+# run test-samples-impl.sh.
 
 # `-e` enables the script to automatically fail when a command fails
 # `-o pipefail` sets the exit code to the rightmost comment to exit with a non-zero
@@ -24,87 +28,19 @@ cd github/python-spanner
 
 # Run periodic samples tests at latest release
 if [[ $KOKORO_BUILD_ARTIFACTS_SUBDIR = *"periodic"* ]]; then
+    # preserving the test runner implementation.
+    cp .kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh "${TMPDIR}/test-samples-impl.sh"
+    echo "--- IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT ---"
+    echo "Now we rewind the repo back to the latest release..."
     LATEST_RELEASE=$(git describe --abbrev=0 --tags)
     git checkout $LATEST_RELEASE
-fi
-
-# Exit early if samples directory doesn't exist
-if [ ! -d "./samples" ]; then
-  echo "No tests run. `./samples` not found"
-  exit 0
-fi
-
-# Disable buffering, so that the logs stream through.
-export PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
-
-# Debug: show build environment
-env | grep KOKORO
-
-# Install nox
-python3.6 -m pip install --upgrade --quiet nox
-
-# Use secrets acessor service account to get secrets
-if [[ -f "${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/secrets_viewer_service_account.json" ]]; then
-    gcloud auth activate-service-account \
-	   --key-file="${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/secrets_viewer_service_account.json" \
-	   --project="cloud-devrel-kokoro-resources"
-fi
-
-# This script will create 3 files:
-# - testing/test-env.sh
-# - testing/service-account.json
-# - testing/client-secrets.json
-./scripts/decrypt-secrets.sh
-
-source ./testing/test-env.sh
-export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=$(pwd)/testing/service-account.json
-
-# For cloud-run session, we activate the service account for gcloud sdk.
-gcloud auth activate-service-account \
-       --key-file "${GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS}"
-
-export GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRETS=$(pwd)/testing/client-secrets.json
-
-echo -e "\n******************** TESTING PROJECTS ********************"
-
-# Switch to 'fail at end' to allow all tests to complete before exiting.
-set +e
-# Use RTN to return a non-zero value if the test fails.
-RTN=0
-ROOT=$(pwd)
-# Find all requirements.txt in the samples directory (may break on whitespace).
-for file in samples/**/requirements.txt; do
-    cd "$ROOT"
-    # Navigate to the project folder.
-    file=$(dirname "$file")
-    cd "$file"
-
-    echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
-    echo "- testing $file"
-    echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
-
-    # Use nox to execute the tests for the project.
-    python3.6 -m nox -s "$RUN_TESTS_SESSION"
-    EXIT=$?
-
-    # If this is a periodic build, send the test log to the FlakyBot.
-    # See https://github.com/googleapis/repo-automation-bots/tree/master/packages/flakybot.
-    if [[ $KOKORO_BUILD_ARTIFACTS_SUBDIR = *"periodic"* ]]; then
-      chmod +x $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
-      $KOKORO_GFILE_DIR/linux_amd64/flakybot
+    echo "The current head is: "
+    echo $(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)
+    echo "--- IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT ---"
+    # move back the test runner implementation if there's no file.
+    if [ ! -f .kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh ]; then
+	cp "${TMPDIR}/test-samples-impl.sh" .kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh
     fi
+fi
 
-    if [[ $EXIT -ne 0 ]]; then
-      RTN=1
-      echo -e "\n Testing failed: Nox returned a non-zero exit code. \n"
-    else
-      echo -e "\n Testing completed.\n"
-    fi
-
-done
-cd "$ROOT"
-
-# Workaround for Kokoro permissions issue: delete secrets
-rm testing/{test-env.sh,client-secrets.json,service-account.json}
-
-exit "$RTN"
+exec .kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..32302e4883
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# See https://pre-commit.com for more information
+# See https://pre-commit.com/hooks.html for more hooks
+repos:
+-   repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
+    rev: v3.4.0
+    hooks:
+    -   id: trailing-whitespace
+    -   id: end-of-file-fixer
+    -   id: check-yaml
+-   repo: https://github.com/psf/black
+    rev: 19.10b0
+    hooks:
+    - id: black
+-   repo: https://gitlab.com/pycqa/flake8
+    rev: 3.9.0
+    hooks:
+    - id: flake8
diff --git a/.trampolinerc b/.trampolinerc
index 995ee29111..383b6ec89f 100644
--- a/.trampolinerc
+++ b/.trampolinerc
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ required_envvars+=(
 pass_down_envvars+=(
     "STAGING_BUCKET"
     "V2_STAGING_BUCKET"
+    "NOX_SESSION"
 )
 
 # Prevent unintentional override on the default image.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.rst b/CONTRIBUTING.rst
index 11e26783be..176f8e514e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.rst
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.rst
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ In order to add a feature:
 - The feature must be documented in both the API and narrative
   documentation.
 
-- The feature must work fully on the following CPython versions:  2.7,
-  3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 on both UNIX and Windows.
+- The feature must work fully on the following CPython versions:
+  3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 on both UNIX and Windows.
 
 - The feature must not add unnecessary dependencies (where
   "unnecessary" is of course subjective, but new dependencies should
@@ -70,9 +70,14 @@ We use `nox <https://nox.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`__ to instrument our tests.
 - To test your changes, run unit tests with ``nox``::
 
     $ nox -s unit-2.7
-    $ nox -s unit-3.7
+    $ nox -s unit-3.8
     $ ...
 
+- Args to pytest can be passed through the nox command separated by a `--`. For
+  example, to run a single test::
+
+    $ nox -s unit-3.8 -- -k <name of test>
+
   .. note::
 
     The unit tests and system tests are described in the
@@ -93,8 +98,12 @@ On Debian/Ubuntu::
 ************
 Coding Style
 ************
+- We use the automatic code formatter ``black``. You can run it using
+  the nox session ``blacken``. This will eliminate many lint errors. Run via::
 
-- PEP8 compliance, with exceptions defined in the linter configuration.
+   $ nox -s blacken
+
+- PEP8 compliance is required, with exceptions defined in the linter configuration.
   If you have ``nox`` installed, you can test that you have not introduced
   any non-compliant code via::
 
@@ -111,6 +120,16 @@ Coding Style
   should point to the official ``googleapis`` checkout and the
   the branch should be the main branch on that remote (``master``).
 
+- This repository contains configuration for the
+  `pre-commit <https://pre-commit.com/>`__ tool, which automates checking
+  our linters during a commit.  If you have it installed on your ``$PATH``,
+  you can enable enforcing those checks via:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   $ pre-commit install
+   pre-commit installed at .git/hooks/pre-commit
+
 Exceptions to PEP8:
 
 - Many unit tests use a helper method, ``_call_fut`` ("FUT" is short for
@@ -123,13 +142,18 @@ Running System Tests
 
 - To run system tests, you can execute::
 
-   $ nox -s system-3.7
+   # Run all system tests
+   $ nox -s system-3.8
    $ nox -s system-2.7
 
+   # Run a single system test
+   $ nox -s system-3.8 -- -k <name of test>
+
+
   .. note::
 
       System tests are only configured to run under Python 2.7 and
-      Python 3.7. For expediency, we do not run them in older versions
+      Python 3.8. For expediency, we do not run them in older versions
       of Python 3.
 
   This alone will not run the tests. You'll need to change some local
@@ -192,25 +216,24 @@ Supported Python Versions
 
 We support:
 
--  `Python 3.5`_
 -  `Python 3.6`_
 -  `Python 3.7`_
 -  `Python 3.8`_
+-  `Python 3.9`_
 
-.. _Python 3.5: https://docs.python.org/3.5/
 .. _Python 3.6: https://docs.python.org/3.6/
 .. _Python 3.7: https://docs.python.org/3.7/
 .. _Python 3.8: https://docs.python.org/3.8/
+.. _Python 3.9: https://docs.python.org/3.9/
 
 
 Supported versions can be found in our ``noxfile.py`` `config`_.
 
 .. _config: https://github.com/googleapis/python-spanner/blob/master/noxfile.py
 
-Python 2.7 support is deprecated. All code changes should maintain Python 2.7 compatibility until January 1, 2020.
 
 We also explicitly decided to support Python 3 beginning with version
-3.5. Reasons for this include:
+3.6. Reasons for this include:
 
 -  Encouraging use of newest versions of Python 3
 -  Taking the lead of `prominent`_ open-source `projects`_
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index a8ee855de2..d645695673 100644
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-                            Apache License
+
+                                 Apache License
                            Version 2.0, January 2004
-                        https://www.apache.org/licenses/
+                        http://www.apache.org/licenses/
 
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE, REPRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION
 
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@
    you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
    You may obtain a copy of the License at
 
-       https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 
    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index e9e29d1203..e783f4c620 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
 
 # Generated by synthtool. DO NOT EDIT!
 include README.rst LICENSE
-recursive-include google *.json *.proto
+recursive-include google *.json *.proto py.typed
 recursive-include tests *
 global-exclude *.py[co]
 global-exclude __pycache__
 
 # Exclude scripts for samples readmegen
-prune scripts/readme-gen
\ No newline at end of file
+prune scripts/readme-gen
diff --git a/docs/_static/custom.css b/docs/_static/custom.css
index 0abaf229fc..bcd37bbd3c 100644
--- a/docs/_static/custom.css
+++ b/docs/_static/custom.css
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 div#python2-eol {
 	border-color: red;
 	border-width: medium;
-} 
\ No newline at end of file
+} 
+
+/* Ensure minimum width for 'Parameters' / 'Returns' column */
+dl.field-list > dt {
+    min-width: 100px
+}
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 7d53976561..ee774dd1c7 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -345,10 +345,11 @@
 
 # Example configuration for intersphinx: refer to the Python standard library.
 intersphinx_mapping = {
-    "python": ("http://python.readthedocs.org/en/latest/", None),
-    "google-auth": ("https://google-auth.readthedocs.io/en/stable", None),
+    "python": ("https://python.readthedocs.org/en/latest/", None),
+    "google-auth": ("https://googleapis.dev/python/google-auth/latest/", None),
     "google.api_core": ("https://googleapis.dev/python/google-api-core/latest/", None,),
-    "grpc": ("https://grpc.io/grpc/python/", None),
+    "grpc": ("https://grpc.github.io/grpc/python/", None),
+    "proto-plus": ("https://proto-plus-python.readthedocs.io/en/latest/", None),
 }
 
 
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner_admin_database_v1/services/database_admin/client.py b/google/cloud/spanner_admin_database_v1/services/database_admin/client.py
index 4dfb39e47b..83cfeb248f 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner_admin_database_v1/services/database_admin/client.py
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner_admin_database_v1/services/database_admin/client.py
@@ -1082,10 +1082,11 @@ def set_iam_policy(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.SetIamPolicyRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.SetIamPolicyRequest()
@@ -1218,10 +1219,11 @@ def get_iam_policy(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.GetIamPolicyRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.GetIamPolicyRequest()
@@ -1309,10 +1311,11 @@ def test_iam_permissions(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.TestIamPermissionsRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.TestIamPermissionsRequest()
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner_admin_instance_v1/services/instance_admin/client.py b/google/cloud/spanner_admin_instance_v1/services/instance_admin/client.py
index 99cad77f03..2dc7b8e6c3 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner_admin_instance_v1/services/instance_admin/client.py
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner_admin_instance_v1/services/instance_admin/client.py
@@ -1179,10 +1179,11 @@ def set_iam_policy(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.SetIamPolicyRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.SetIamPolicyRequest()
@@ -1311,10 +1312,11 @@ def get_iam_policy(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.GetIamPolicyRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.GetIamPolicyRequest()
@@ -1399,10 +1401,11 @@ def test_iam_permissions(
                 "the individual field arguments should be set."
             )
 
+        # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
+        # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
         if isinstance(request, dict):
-            # The request isn't a proto-plus wrapped type,
-            # so it must be constructed via keyword expansion.
             request = iam_policy.TestIamPermissionsRequest(**request)
+
         elif not request:
             # Null request, just make one.
             request = iam_policy.TestIamPermissionsRequest()
diff --git a/renovate.json b/renovate.json
index 4fa949311b..f08bc22c9a 100644
--- a/renovate.json
+++ b/renovate.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "extends": [
     "config:base",  ":preserveSemverRanges"
-  ]
+  ],
+  "ignorePaths": [".pre-commit-config.yaml"]
 }
diff --git a/samples/samples/noxfile.py b/samples/samples/noxfile.py
index 01686e4a03..97bf7da80e 100644
--- a/samples/samples/noxfile.py
+++ b/samples/samples/noxfile.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
+from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional
 
 import nox
 
@@ -39,6 +40,10 @@
     # You can opt out from the test for specific Python versions.
     'ignored_versions': ["2.7"],
 
+    # Old samples are opted out of enforcing Python type hints
+    # All new samples should feature them
+    'enforce_type_hints': False,
+
     # An envvar key for determining the project id to use. Change it
     # to 'BUILD_SPECIFIC_GCLOUD_PROJECT' if you want to opt in using a
     # build specific Cloud project. You can also use your own string
@@ -64,7 +69,7 @@
 TEST_CONFIG.update(TEST_CONFIG_OVERRIDE)
 
 
-def get_pytest_env_vars():
+def get_pytest_env_vars() -> Dict[str, str]:
     """Returns a dict for pytest invocation."""
     ret = {}
 
@@ -80,7 +85,7 @@ def get_pytest_env_vars():
 
 # DO NOT EDIT - automatically generated.
 # All versions used to tested samples.
-ALL_VERSIONS = ["2.7", "3.6", "3.7", "3.8"]
+ALL_VERSIONS = ["2.7", "3.6", "3.7", "3.8", "3.9"]
 
 # Any default versions that should be ignored.
 IGNORED_VERSIONS = TEST_CONFIG['ignored_versions']
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ def get_pytest_env_vars():
 #
 
 
-def _determine_local_import_names(start_dir):
+def _determine_local_import_names(start_dir: str) -> List[str]:
     """Determines all import names that should be considered "local".
 
     This is used when running the linter to insure that import order is
@@ -131,8 +136,11 @@ def _determine_local_import_names(start_dir):
 
 
 @nox.session
-def lint(session):
-    session.install("flake8", "flake8-import-order")
+def lint(session: nox.sessions.Session) -> None:
+    if not TEST_CONFIG['enforce_type_hints']:
+        session.install("flake8", "flake8-import-order")
+    else:
+        session.install("flake8", "flake8-import-order", "flake8-annotations")
 
     local_names = _determine_local_import_names(".")
     args = FLAKE8_COMMON_ARGS + [
@@ -141,7 +149,17 @@ def lint(session):
         "."
     ]
     session.run("flake8", *args)
+#
+# Black
+#
+
+
+@nox.session
+def blacken(session: nox.sessions.Session) -> None:
+    session.install("black")
+    python_files = [path for path in os.listdir(".") if path.endswith(".py")]
 
+    session.run("black", *python_files)
 
 #
 # Sample Tests
@@ -151,7 +169,7 @@ def lint(session):
 PYTEST_COMMON_ARGS = ["--junitxml=sponge_log.xml"]
 
 
-def _session_tests(session, post_install=None):
+def _session_tests(session: nox.sessions.Session, post_install: Callable = None) -> None:
     """Runs py.test for a particular project."""
     if os.path.exists("requirements.txt"):
         session.install("-r", "requirements.txt")
@@ -177,7 +195,7 @@ def _session_tests(session, post_install=None):
 
 
 @nox.session(python=ALL_VERSIONS)
-def py(session):
+def py(session: nox.sessions.Session) -> None:
     """Runs py.test for a sample using the specified version of Python."""
     if session.python in TESTED_VERSIONS:
         _session_tests(session)
@@ -192,7 +210,7 @@ def py(session):
 #
 
 
-def _get_repo_root():
+def _get_repo_root() -> Optional[str]:
     """ Returns the root folder of the project. """
     # Get root of this repository. Assume we don't have directories nested deeper than 10 items.
     p = Path(os.getcwd())
@@ -215,7 +233,7 @@ def _get_repo_root():
 
 @nox.session
 @nox.parametrize("path", GENERATED_READMES)
-def readmegen(session, path):
+def readmegen(session: nox.sessions.Session, path: str) -> None:
     """(Re-)generates the readme for a sample."""
     session.install("jinja2", "pyyaml")
     dir_ = os.path.dirname(path)
diff --git a/synth.metadata b/synth.metadata
index 6801585652..72c4d0ff71 100644
--- a/synth.metadata
+++ b/synth.metadata
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "git": {
         "name": ".",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/python-spanner.git",
-        "sha": "a082e5d7d2195ab9429a8e0bef4a664b59fdf771"
+        "sha": "5ca63407847ad615dc51beaaaa7f16640daf0e23"
       }
     },
     {
@@ -19,14 +19,14 @@
       "git": {
         "name": "synthtool",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/synthtool.git",
-        "sha": "a783321fd55f010709294455584a553f4b24b944"
+        "sha": "f5c5904fb0c6aa3b3730eadf4e5a4485afc65726"
       }
     },
     {
       "git": {
         "name": "synthtool",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/synthtool.git",
-        "sha": "a783321fd55f010709294455584a553f4b24b944"
+        "sha": "f5c5904fb0c6aa3b3730eadf4e5a4485afc65726"
       }
     }
   ],
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
     ".github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.md",
     ".github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/support_request.md",
     ".github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md",
+    ".github/header-checker-lint.yml",
     ".github/release-please.yml",
     ".github/snippet-bot.yml",
     ".gitignore",
@@ -90,19 +91,25 @@
     ".kokoro/samples/lint/presubmit.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.6/common.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.6/continuous.cfg",
+    ".kokoro/samples/python3.6/periodic-head.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.6/periodic.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.6/presubmit.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.7/common.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.7/continuous.cfg",
+    ".kokoro/samples/python3.7/periodic-head.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.7/periodic.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.7/presubmit.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.8/common.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.8/continuous.cfg",
+    ".kokoro/samples/python3.8/periodic-head.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.8/periodic.cfg",
     ".kokoro/samples/python3.8/presubmit.cfg",
+    ".kokoro/test-samples-against-head.sh",
+    ".kokoro/test-samples-impl.sh",
     ".kokoro/test-samples.sh",
     ".kokoro/trampoline.sh",
     ".kokoro/trampoline_v2.sh",
+    ".pre-commit-config.yaml",
     ".trampolinerc",
     "CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md",
     "CONTRIBUTING.rst",