diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index dbf935ee..936c16a2 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ inputs:
     description: 'Icon to be used for duplicity warning. Icon is placed before the record line.'
     required: false
     default: '🔔'
+  open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon:
+    description: 'Icon prepended to open children under a closed hierarchy parent.'
+    required: false
+    default: '🟡'
   published-at:
     description: 'Use `published-at` timestamp instead of `created-at` as the reference point of previous Release.'
     required: false
@@ -181,6 +185,7 @@ runs:
         INPUT_HIERARCHY: ${{ inputs.hierarchy }}
         INPUT_DUPLICITY_SCOPE: ${{ inputs.duplicity-scope }}
         INPUT_DUPLICITY_ICON: ${{ inputs.duplicity-icon }}
+        INPUT_OPEN_HIERARCHY_SUB_ISSUE_ICON: ${{ inputs.open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon }}
         INPUT_WARNINGS: ${{ inputs.warnings }}
         INPUT_HIDDEN_SERVICE_CHAPTERS: ${{ inputs.hidden-service-chapters }}
         INPUT_SERVICE_CHAPTER_ORDER: ${{ inputs.service-chapter-order }}
diff --git a/docs/features/issue_hierarchy_support.md b/docs/features/issue_hierarchy_support.md
index 75475bcd..87dceac0 100644
--- a/docs/features/issue_hierarchy_support.md
+++ b/docs/features/issue_hierarchy_support.md
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ Represent issue → sub-issue relationships directly in release notes, aggregati
 ## How It Works
 - Enabled via input `hierarchy: true` (default: `false`). When disabled, all issues render flat.
 - Parent issues are detected; sub-issues (and nested hierarchy issues) are fetched and ordered by level. Levels indent with two spaces per depth; nested items use list markers (`-`).
-- Only closed sub-issues that contain a change increment (merged PR to default branch) are rendered; open ones, and PR to non default branch are ignored.
+- When the parent hierarchy issue is **open**:
+  - Leaf sub-issues: only closed ones with a change increment are rendered; open ones and those closed or delivered in a previous release are ignored.
+  - Nested sub-hierarchy children: filtered by change increment only — an open child that aggregates PRs from deeper levels is still rendered.
+- When the parent hierarchy issue is **closed**: all children (sub-issues and nested sub-hierarchy children) are rendered. Open children are prefixed with the `open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon` (default `🟡`) to signal incomplete work.
 - Each hierarchy issue line can expand with its own extracted release notes block if present (prefixed with `_Release Notes_:` heading within the item block).
 
 ## Configuration
@@ -23,6 +26,12 @@ Represent issue → sub-issue relationships directly in release notes, aggregati
       - {"title": "New Features 🎉", "label": "feature"}
 ```
 
+Optional inputs related to hierarchy:
+
+| Input | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|
+| `open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon` | `🟡` | Icon prepended to open sub-issues and open sub-hierarchy issues rendered under a closed hierarchy parent. Set to an empty string to disable highlighting. |
+
 ## Example Result
 ```markdown
 ### New Features 🎉
@@ -33,6 +42,7 @@ Represent issue → sub-issue relationships directly in release notes, aggregati
   - Updated `scala213 = "2.13.13"`
   - Feature: _Add user MFA enrollment flow_ #123 developed by @alice in #124
     - Add user MFA enrollment flow
+  - 🟡 Feature: _Add OAuth2 login_ #125  ← open sub-issue under closed Epic
 ```
 (1st four indented bullets under Epic line represent the extracted release notes from the parent hierarchy issue's body.)
 
diff --git a/release_notes_generator/action_inputs.py b/release_notes_generator/action_inputs.py
index ec6555c7..fe55ec64 100644
--- a/release_notes_generator/action_inputs.py
+++ b/release_notes_generator/action_inputs.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     PRINT_EMPTY_CHAPTERS,
     DUPLICITY_SCOPE,
     DUPLICITY_ICON,
+    OPEN_HIERARCHY_SUB_ISSUE_ICON,
     ROW_FORMAT_LINK_PR,
     ROW_FORMAT_ISSUE,
     ROW_FORMAT_PR,
@@ -200,6 +201,13 @@ def get_duplicity_icon() -> str:
         """
         return get_action_input(DUPLICITY_ICON, "🔔")  # type: ignore[return-value]  # string is returned as default
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_open_hierarchy_sub_issue_icon() -> str:
+        """
+        Get the icon prepended to open sub-issues rendered under a closed hierarchy parent.
+        """
+        return get_action_input(OPEN_HIERARCHY_SUB_ISSUE_ICON, "🟡")  # type: ignore[return-value]  # string is returned as default
+
     @staticmethod
     def get_published_at() -> bool:
         """
diff --git a/release_notes_generator/model/record/hierarchy_issue_record.py b/release_notes_generator/model/record/hierarchy_issue_record.py
index 05a5aa4c..5696d790 100644
--- a/release_notes_generator/model/record/hierarchy_issue_record.py
+++ b/release_notes_generator/model/record/hierarchy_issue_record.py
@@ -216,24 +216,40 @@ def to_chapter_row(self, add_into_chapters: bool = True) -> str:
 
         # add sub-hierarchy issues
         for sub_hierarchy_issue in self._sub_hierarchy_issues.values():
-            logger.debug("Rendering hierarchy issue row for sub-issue #%s", sub_hierarchy_issue.issue.number)
-            if sub_hierarchy_issue.contains_change_increment():
-                logger.debug("Sub-hierarchy issue #%s contains change increment", sub_hierarchy_issue.issue.number)
-                row = f"{row}\n{sub_hierarchy_issue.to_chapter_row()}"
+            logger.debug("Rendering sub-hierarchy issue row for #%s", sub_hierarchy_issue.issue.number)
+            if self.is_open:
+                if not sub_hierarchy_issue.contains_change_increment():
+                    continue
+            # Closed parent: render all sub-hierarchy issues regardless of state or change increment
+            logger.debug("Rendering sub-hierarchy issue #%s", sub_hierarchy_issue.issue.number)
+            sub_row = sub_hierarchy_issue.to_chapter_row()
+            if self.is_closed and sub_hierarchy_issue.is_open:
+                # Highlight open children under a closed parent to signal incomplete work
+                icon = ActionInputs.get_open_hierarchy_sub_issue_icon()
+                header_line, newline, remaining_lines = sub_row.partition("\n")
+                header_text = header_line.lstrip()
+                indent = header_line[: len(header_line) - len(header_text)]
+                sub_row = f"{indent}{icon} {header_text}{newline}{remaining_lines}"
+            row = f"{row}\n{sub_row}"
 
         # add sub-issues
         if len(self._sub_issues) > 0:
             sub_indent = "  " * (self._level + 1)
             for sub_issue in self._sub_issues.values():
-                logger.debug("Rendering sub-issue row for issue #%d", sub_issue.issue.number)
-                if sub_issue.is_open:
-                    continue  # only closed issues are reported in release notes
-
-                if not sub_issue.contains_change_increment():
-                    continue  # skip sub-issues without change increment
-
-                logger.debug("Sub-issue #%s contains change increment", sub_issue.issue.number)
-                sub_issue_block = "- " + sub_issue.to_chapter_row()
+                logger.debug("Rendering sub-issue row for issue #%s", sub_issue.issue.number)
+                if self.is_open:
+                    if sub_issue.is_open:
+                        continue  # only closed issues are reported in release notes
+                    if not sub_issue.contains_change_increment():
+                        continue  # skip sub-issues without change increment
+                # Closed parent: render all sub-issues regardless of state or change increment
+
+                logger.debug("Rendering sub-issue #%s", sub_issue.issue.number)
+                open_icon_prefix = ""
+                if self.is_closed and sub_issue.is_open:
+                    # Highlight open children under a closed parent to signal incomplete work
+                    open_icon_prefix = f"{ActionInputs.get_open_hierarchy_sub_issue_icon()} "
+                sub_issue_block = "- " + open_icon_prefix + sub_issue.to_chapter_row()
                 ind_child_block = "\n".join(
                     f"{sub_indent}{line}" if line else "" for line in sub_issue_block.splitlines()
                 )
diff --git a/release_notes_generator/utils/constants.py b/release_notes_generator/utils/constants.py
index 89693c24..38a2c35b 100644
--- a/release_notes_generator/utils/constants.py
+++ b/release_notes_generator/utils/constants.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 CHAPTERS = "chapters"
 DUPLICITY_SCOPE = "duplicity-scope"
 DUPLICITY_ICON = "duplicity-icon"
+OPEN_HIERARCHY_SUB_ISSUE_ICON = "open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon"
 PUBLISHED_AT = "published-at"
 SKIP_RELEASE_NOTES_LABELS = "skip-release-notes-labels"
 VERBOSE = "verbose"
diff --git a/tests/unit/conftest.py b/tests/unit/conftest.py
index c924e4dd..ea8b2817 100644
--- a/tests/unit/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/unit/conftest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import pytest
+from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 
 from github import Github, IssueType, NamedUser
 from github.Commit import Commit
@@ -1226,3 +1227,108 @@ def mock_logging_setup(mocker):
     """Fixture to mock the basic logging setup using pytest-mock."""
     mock_log_config = mocker.patch("logging.basicConfig")
     yield mock_log_config
+
+
+# Helpers for hierarchy issue record tests
+_HIERARCHY_ROW_FMT = "_{title}_ {number}"
+_ISSUE_ROW_FMT_MINIMAL = "{number} _{title}_"
+
+
+def make_minimal_issue(mocker: MockerFixture, state: str, number: int) -> Issue:
+    """Return a minimal Issue mock."""
+    issue = mocker.Mock(spec=Issue)
+    issue.state = state
+    issue.number = number
+    issue.title = "Minimal test issue"
+    issue.body = None
+    issue.type = None
+    issue.user = None
+    issue.assignees = []
+    issue.get_labels.return_value = []
+    return issue
+
+
+def make_minimal_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> PullRequest:
+    """Return a minimal PullRequest mock."""
+    pr = mocker.Mock(spec=PullRequest)
+    pr.number = number
+    pr.body = None
+    pr.html_url = f"https://github.com/org/repo/pull/{number}"
+    pr.user = None
+    pr.assignees = []
+    pr.get_labels.return_value = []
+    return pr
+
+
+def make_closed_sub_issue_record_with_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> SubIssueRecord:
+    """Return a closed SubIssueRecord with one PR (no commits)."""
+    sub_record = SubIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number))
+    sub_record.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, number=number + 1000))
+    return sub_record
+
+
+def make_open_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> SubIssueRecord:
+    """Return an open SubIssueRecord with no PRs."""
+    return SubIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number))
+
+
+def make_closed_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> SubIssueRecord:
+    """Return a closed SubIssueRecord with no PRs (no change increment)."""
+    return SubIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number))
+
+
+def make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> HierarchyIssueRecord:
+    """Return an open HierarchyIssueRecord with no PRs."""
+    return HierarchyIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number))
+
+
+def make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> HierarchyIssueRecord:
+    """Return an open HierarchyIssueRecord with one PR (no commits)."""
+    rec = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number))
+    rec.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, number=number + 1000))
+    return rec
+
+
+def make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> HierarchyIssueRecord:
+    """Return a closed HierarchyIssueRecord with one PR (no commits)."""
+    rec = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number))
+    rec.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, number=number + 1000))
+    return rec
+
+
+def make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr(mocker: MockerFixture, number: int) -> HierarchyIssueRecord:
+    """Return a closed HierarchyIssueRecord with no PRs (no change increment)."""
+    return HierarchyIssueRecord(make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number))
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def patch_hierarchy_action_inputs(mocker):
+    """Patch ActionInputs with minimal row-format values for HierarchyIssueRecord tests."""
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.hierarchy_issue_record.ActionInputs.get_row_format_hierarchy_issue",
+        return_value=_HIERARCHY_ROW_FMT,
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.hierarchy_issue_record.ActionInputs.get_duplicity_icon",
+        return_value="🔔",
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.issue_record.ActionInputs.get_row_format_issue",
+        return_value=_ISSUE_ROW_FMT_MINIMAL,
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.issue_record.ActionInputs.get_duplicity_icon",
+        return_value="🔔",
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.record.ActionInputs.get_release_notes_title",
+        return_value="Release Notes:",
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.record.ActionInputs.is_coderabbit_support_active",
+        return_value=False,
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "release_notes_generator.model.record.hierarchy_issue_record.ActionInputs.get_open_hierarchy_sub_issue_icon",
+        return_value="🟡",
+    )
diff --git a/tests/unit/release_notes_generator/model/test_hierarchy_issue_record.py b/tests/unit/release_notes_generator/model/test_hierarchy_issue_record.py
index d9f6ba6e..a8fb515f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/release_notes_generator/model/test_hierarchy_issue_record.py
+++ b/tests/unit/release_notes_generator/model/test_hierarchy_issue_record.py
@@ -19,6 +19,172 @@
 
 from release_notes_generator.model.record.hierarchy_issue_record import HierarchyIssueRecord
 from release_notes_generator.model.record.issue_record import IssueRecord
+from tests.unit.conftest import (
+    make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr,
+    make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr,
+    make_closed_sub_issue_record_no_pr,
+    make_closed_sub_issue_record_with_pr,
+    make_minimal_issue,
+    make_minimal_pr,
+    make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr,
+    make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr,
+    make_open_sub_issue_record_no_pr,
+)
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_closed_parent_renders_closed_and_open_sub_issues(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Closed parent with one closed sub-issue (has PR) and one open sub-issue (no change
+    increment) → both appear in to_chapter_row() output.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_issues["450"] = make_closed_sub_issue_record_with_pr(mocker, number=450)
+    record.sub_issues["400"] = make_open_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker, number=400)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#450" in row, f"Closed sub-issue #450 must appear; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "#400" in row, f"Open sub-issue #400 must appear when parent is closed; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_closed_parent_highlights_open_sub_issue(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """Open sub-issue under a closed parent is prefixed with the open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon."""
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_issues["400"] = make_open_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker, number=400)
+    record.sub_issues["450"] = make_closed_sub_issue_record_with_pr(mocker, number=450)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    lines = row.splitlines()
+    open_line = next((l for l in lines if "#400" in l), None)
+    closed_line = next((l for l in lines if "#450" in l), None)
+    assert open_line is not None, f"Open sub-issue #400 must be present; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "🟡" in open_line, f"Open sub-issue line must contain icon; got: {open_line!r}"
+    assert closed_line is not None, f"Closed sub-issue #450 must be present; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "🟡" not in closed_line, f"Closed sub-issue line must NOT contain icon; got: {closed_line!r}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_closed_parent_highlights_open_sub_hierarchy_issue(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """Open sub-hierarchy-issue under a closed parent is prefixed with the open-hierarchy-sub-issue-icon."""
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["360"] = make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker, number=360)
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["350"] = make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker, number=350)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    lines = row.splitlines()
+    open_line = next((l for l in lines if "#360" in l), None)
+    closed_line = next((l for l in lines if "#350" in l), None)
+    assert open_line is not None, f"Open sub-hierarchy #360 must be present; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "🟡" in open_line, f"Open sub-hierarchy line must contain icon; got: {open_line!r}"
+    assert closed_line is not None, f"Closed sub-hierarchy #350 must be present; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "🟡" not in closed_line, f"Closed sub-hierarchy line must NOT contain icon; got: {closed_line!r}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_open_parent_only_renders_closed_sub_issues_with_change_increment(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Open parent with one closed sub-issue (has PR) and one open sub-issue (no PR) →
+    only the closed sub-issue appears; open sub-issue is suppressed.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_issues["450"] = make_closed_sub_issue_record_with_pr(mocker, number=450)
+    record.sub_issues["400"] = make_open_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker, number=400)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#450" in row, f"Closed sub-issue #450 must appear; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "#400" not in row, f"Open sub-issue #400 must NOT appear when parent is open; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_open_parent_suppresses_closed_sub_issue_from_previous_release(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Open parent with one closed sub-issue that has no change increment (closed or delivered
+    in a previous release) → the sub-issue does not appear in the current release notes.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_issues["450"] = make_closed_sub_issue_record_no_pr(mocker, number=450)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#450" not in row, f"Sub-issue from previous release must NOT appear; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_open_parent_suppresses_closed_sub_hierarchy_issue_from_previous_release(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Open parent with one closed sub-hierarchy issue that has no change increment (closed or
+    delivered in a previous release) → the sub-hierarchy issue does not appear.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["350"] = make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr(mocker, number=350)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#350" not in row, f"Sub-hierarchy issue from previous release must NOT appear; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_closed_parent_renders_closed_and_open_sub_hierarchy_issues(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Closed parent with one closed sub-hierarchy issue (has PR) and one open sub-hierarchy
+    issue (no change increment) → both appear in to_chapter_row() output.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["350"] = make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker, number=350)
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["360"] = make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr(mocker, number=360)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#350" in row, f"Closed sub-hierarchy issue #350 must appear; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "#360" in row, f"Open sub-hierarchy issue #360 must appear when parent is closed; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_open_parent_only_renders_sub_hierarchy_issues_with_change_increment(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Open parent with one closed sub-hierarchy issue (has PR) and one open sub-hierarchy
+    issue (no PR, no change increment) → only the closed sub-hierarchy issue appears.
+    Unlike leaf sub-issues, sub-hierarchy issues are filtered by change increment only;
+    an open sub-hierarchy issue that aggregates PRs from its own sub-issues would still appear.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["350"] = make_closed_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker, number=350)
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["360"] = make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_no_pr(mocker, number=360)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#350" in row, f"Closed sub-hierarchy issue #350 must appear; got:\n{row}"
+    assert "#360" not in row, f"Sub-hierarchy issue #360 with no change increment must NOT appear; got:\n{row}"
+
+
+def test_to_chapter_row_open_parent_renders_open_sub_hierarchy_issue_with_change_increment(mocker, patch_hierarchy_action_inputs):
+    """
+    Open parent with one open sub-hierarchy issue that has a PR (change increment present)
+    → the sub-hierarchy issue appears. Sub-hierarchy children are filtered by change
+    increment only; open state alone is not a reason to suppress them.
+    """
+    parent = make_minimal_issue(mocker, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN, number=300)
+    record = HierarchyIssueRecord(parent)
+
+    record.sub_hierarchy_issues["360"] = make_open_sub_hierarchy_record_with_pr(mocker, number=360)
+
+    row = record.to_chapter_row()
+
+    assert "#360" in row, f"Open sub-hierarchy issue #360 with a PR must appear under open parent; got:\n{row}"
+
 
 
 def test_progress_leaf_node_returns_empty_string(make_hierarchy_issue):
@@ -205,24 +371,14 @@ def test_progress_per_level_independence(make_hierarchy_issue, make_sub_issue):
     assert child_c.progress == "", f"child_c: {child_c.progress!r}"
 
 
-def _make_mock_pull(mocker, number: int):
-    """Create a minimal mock PullRequest with the given number."""
-    from github.PullRequest import PullRequest as GHPullRequest
-
-    pull = mocker.Mock(spec=GHPullRequest)
-    pull.number = number
-    pull.get_labels.return_value = []
-    return pull
-
-
 def test_contains_change_increment_false_when_all_sub_issues_open(mocker, make_hierarchy_issue, make_sub_issue):
     """Bug regression: open hierarchy with only open sub-issues (with PRs) must not appear in release notes."""
     parent = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_hierarchy_issue(10, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN))
 
     sub1 = make_sub_issue(11, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN)
-    sub1.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 111))
+    sub1.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 111))
     sub2 = make_sub_issue(12, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN)
-    sub2.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 112))
+    sub2.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 112))
     parent.sub_issues.update({"org/repo#11": sub1, "org/repo#12": sub2})
 
     assert parent.contains_change_increment() is False
@@ -233,9 +389,9 @@ def test_contains_change_increment_true_when_one_closed_sub_issue_has_pr(mocker,
     parent = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_hierarchy_issue(20, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN))
 
     open_sub = make_sub_issue(21, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN)
-    open_sub.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 211))
+    open_sub.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 211))
     closed_sub = make_sub_issue(22, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED)
-    closed_sub.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 212))
+    closed_sub.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 212))
     parent.sub_issues.update({"org/repo#21": open_sub, "org/repo#22": closed_sub})
 
     assert parent.contains_change_increment() is True
@@ -251,7 +407,7 @@ def test_contains_change_increment_false_leaf_no_prs(make_hierarchy_issue):
 def test_contains_change_increment_true_leaf_with_direct_pr(mocker, make_hierarchy_issue):
     """A hierarchy issue with a direct PR on itself (not from sub-issues) returns True."""
     record = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_hierarchy_issue(40, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN))
-    record.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 401))
+    record.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 401))
 
     assert record.contains_change_increment() is True
 
@@ -274,7 +430,7 @@ def test_contains_change_increment_false_nested_open_only(mocker, make_hierarchy
     child = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_hierarchy_issue(61, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN))
 
     open_leaf = make_sub_issue(62, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN)
-    open_leaf.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 621))
+    open_leaf.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 621))
     child.sub_issues.update({"org/repo#62": open_leaf})
     root.sub_hierarchy_issues.update({"org/repo#61": child})
 
@@ -291,7 +447,7 @@ def test_contains_change_increment_true_nested_with_closed_leaf(mocker, make_hie
     child = HierarchyIssueRecord(make_hierarchy_issue(71, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_OPEN))
 
     closed_leaf = make_sub_issue(72, IssueRecord.ISSUE_STATE_CLOSED)
-    closed_leaf.register_pull_request(_make_mock_pull(mocker, 721))
+    closed_leaf.register_pull_request(make_minimal_pr(mocker, 721))
     child.sub_issues.update({"org/repo#72": closed_leaf})
     root.sub_hierarchy_issues.update({"org/repo#71": child})