diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/blank-issue-template.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/blank-issue-template.md
index 95d8f2819b..e8ed8b5e0f 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/blank-issue-template.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/blank-issue-template.md
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 name: Blank Issue Template
 about: 'Standard HackforLA issue template '
 title: ''
-labels: 'Complexity: Missing, Feature Missing, role missing, size: missing'
+labels: 'Template Label Placeholder'
 assignees: ''
 
 ---
+<!-- labels: 'complexityMissing, featureMissing, roleMissing, sizeMissing' -->
+<!--  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+<!-- NOTE: do not edit the line above. These labels are used by the automation.  -->
 
 ### Overview
 REPLACE THIS TEXT - Clearly state the purpose of this issue in 2 sentences or less.  We write ours a modified user story in this format: _We need to do X for Y reason._
diff --git a/github-actions/trigger-issue/add-missing-labels-to-issues/check-labels.js b/github-actions/trigger-issue/add-missing-labels-to-issues/check-labels.js
index 5aa85adbfa..05f4da7061 100644
--- a/github-actions/trigger-issue/add-missing-labels-to-issues/check-labels.js
+++ b/github-actions/trigger-issue/add-missing-labels-to-issues/check-labels.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Module imports
+const retrieveLabelDirectory = require('../../utils/retrieve-label-directory');
 const statusFieldIds = require('../../utils/_data/status-field-ids');
 const queryIssueInfo = require('../../utils/query-issue-info');
 const mutateIssueStatus = require('../../utils/mutate-issue-status');
@@ -8,9 +9,6 @@ const REQUIRED_LABELS = ['Complexity', 'role', 'Feature', 'size'];
 const LABEL_MISSING = ['Complexity: Missing', 'role missing', 'Feature Missing', 'size: missing'];
 const COMPLEXITY_EXCEPTIONS = ['good first issue'];
 
-// SPECIAL_CASE is for issue created by reference with issue title "Hack for LA website bot" (from "Review Inactive Team Members")
-const SPECIAL_CASE = ['ready for dev lead','Feature: Administrative','size: 0.25pt','Complexity: Small','role: dev leads'];
-
 // Global variables
 var github;
 var context;
@@ -26,14 +24,22 @@ async function main({ g, c }) {
   context = c;
   const issueNum = context.payload.issue.number;
   const issueTitle = context.payload.issue.title;
+  const templateTrigger = context.payload.issue.labels[0].name;
+  let labels = [];
 
-  const labels = obtainLabels();
+  // If the issue is a template, extract the labelKeys then convert to labels
+  if (templateTrigger === 'Template Label Placeholder') {
+    labels = extractTemplateLabels();
+  } else {
+    labels = obtainLabels();
+  }
+  
   const filteredLabels = filterLabels(labels);
   let labelsToAdd = checkLabels(filteredLabels);
 
-  // Labels for SPECIAL_CASE noted above, change issue status to "Questions / In Review"
+  // SPECIAL_CASE: If issue has title "Hack for LA website bot" (from "Review 
+  // Inactive Team Members") then change issue status to "Questions / In Review"
   if (issueTitle.includes('Hack for LA website bot')) {
-    labelsToAdd = SPECIAL_CASE;
     // Find GraphQL issue id and change status id, then change status
     const { id: itemId } = await queryIssueInfo(github, context, issueNum);
     const newStatusValue = statusFieldIds("Questions_In_Review");
@@ -54,6 +60,22 @@ async function main({ g, c }) {
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Only for template: extract all labels from the template body
+ * @return {Array} - returns an array of all the labels
+ */
+function extractTemplateLabels() {
+  const templateBody = context.payload.issue.body;
+  // Extract label list from a comment in the template body
+  const match = templateBody.match(/<!--\s*labels:\s*'([^']*)'(?:,\s*'([^']*)')*\s*-->/);
+  if (!match) return []; 
+
+  // Extract each labelKey, convert to labelName, and return as an array
+  let labelKeys =  match[1].split(',').map(label => label.trim());
+  let labelNames = labelKeys.map(labelKey => retrieveLabelDirectory(labelKey));
+  return labelNames
+}
+
 /**
  * Get all labels from the issue
  * @return {Array} - returns an array of all the labels
diff --git a/github-actions/trigger-schedule/list-inactive-members/inactive-members.md b/github-actions/trigger-schedule/list-inactive-members/inactive-members.md
index 02efe8f359..34070b037c 100644
--- a/github-actions/trigger-schedule/list-inactive-members/inactive-members.md
+++ b/github-actions/trigger-schedule/list-inactive-members/inactive-members.md
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 name: Review Inactive Team Members
 about: Issue template used only by `schedule-monthly.yml`
 title: "Review Inactive Team Members"
-labels: ['Feature: Administrative', 'Feature: Onboarding/Contributing.md', 'role: dev leads', 'Complexity: Small', 'size: 0.5pt']
+labels: 'Template Label Placeholder'
 milestone: 8
 assignees: ''
 ---
-
-<!--
-Note: This template is only for use by the `schedule-monthly.yml` workflow.
---> 
+<!-- labels: 'featureAdministrative, featureOnboardingContributingMd, roleDevLeads, complexity2, size05pt' -->
+<!--  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+<!-- NOTE: do not edit the line above. These labels are used by the automation.  -->
+<!-- NOTE: This template is only for use by the `schedule-monthly.yml` workflow. --> 
 
 # Review of Inactive Website Team Members
 ## Inactive Members