diff --git a/.github/scripts/noxfile-lint.py b/.github/scripts/noxfile-lint.py
index c1ce614150d..5423afe3c9d 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/noxfile-lint.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/noxfile-lint.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 import nox
 
 # Use a stable Python version for running the style utilities
-LINTING_VERSION = "3.10"
+LINTING_VERSION = "3.12"
 
 # Error out if the runner is missing the target python interpreter
 nox.options.error_on_missing_interpreters = True
@@ -33,11 +33,15 @@ def _determine_local_import_names(start_dir: str) -> list[str]:
             basename
             for basename, extension in file_ext_pairs
             if extension == ".py"
-            or (os.path.isdir(os.path.join(start_dir, basename)) and basename != "__pycache__")
+            or (
+                os.path.isdir(os.path.join(start_dir, basename))
+                and basename != "__pycache__"
+            )
         ]
     except Exception:
         return []
 
+
 # Linting with flake8.
 #
 # We ignore the following rules:
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ def lint(session: nox.sessions.Session) -> None:
 def blacken(session: nox.sessions.Session) -> None:
     """Runs black code formatting checks. Honors incremental PR file arguments."""
     session.install("black")
-    
+
     # If explicit target files are passed via posargs, target ONLY those files.
     if session.posargs:
         targets = session.posargs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index feed8cff3d7..fed8222fbb7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@6d4fd22b20465ccc0f7354476588e8df7c9ca0e0 # v7.1.0
         with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
+          python-version: '3.12'
 
       - name: Install nox
         run: |
diff --git a/noxfile-template.py b/noxfile-template.py
index 09bd81c1b77..4fdb54d7202 100644
--- a/noxfile-template.py
+++ b/noxfile-template.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 
 import nox
 
-
 # WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING
 # WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING
 #       BE CAREFUL WHEN EDITING THIS FILE!
@@ -40,7 +39,12 @@
 
 TEST_CONFIG = {
     # You can opt out from the test for specific Python versions.
-    "ignored_versions": ["2.7", "3.7", "3.8", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"],
+    # By default, samples are tested on the minimum (3.12) and the
+    # latest stable (3.14) supported Python versions.
+    "ignored_versions": ["3.13"],
+    # Newly released Python versions are only tested when a sample
+    # explicitly opts in, for example: "opt_in_versions": ["3.15"].
+    "opt_in_versions": [],
     # Old samples are opted out of enforcing Python type hints
     # All new samples should feature them
     "enforce_type_hints": False,
@@ -87,20 +91,33 @@ def get_pytest_env_vars() -> dict[str, str]:
     return ret
 
 
-# All versions used to tested samples.
-ALL_VERSIONS = ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+# All Python versions that samples can be tested on. 3.12 is the minimum
+# supported version.
+ALL_VERSIONS = ["3.12", "3.13", "3.14", "3.15"]
+
+# Newly released versions that are only tested when a sample lists them
+# in "opt_in_versions". Existing configs only list the versions they
+# ignore, so without this a new version would be enabled for all of them.
+OPT_IN_VERSIONS = ["3.15"]
 
-# Any default versions that should be ignored.
+# Any default versions that should be ignored. Versions that are no
+# longer in ALL_VERSIONS (for example "3.8") are safely ignored.
 IGNORED_VERSIONS = TEST_CONFIG["ignored_versions"]
 
-TESTED_VERSIONS = sorted([v for v in ALL_VERSIONS if v not in IGNORED_VERSIONS])
+TESTED_VERSIONS = sorted(
+    [
+        v
+        for v in ALL_VERSIONS
+        if v not in IGNORED_VERSIONS
+        and (v not in OPT_IN_VERSIONS or v in TEST_CONFIG.get("opt_in_versions", []))
+    ]
+)
 
 INSTALL_LIBRARY_FROM_SOURCE = bool(os.environ.get("INSTALL_LIBRARY_FROM_SOURCE", False))
 
-# Use the oldest tested Python version for linting (defaults to 3.10)
-LINTING_VERSION = "3.10"
-if len(TESTED_VERSIONS) > 0:
-    LINTING_VERSION = TESTED_VERSIONS[0]
+# Run style checks on the minimum supported Python version, regardless of
+# which versions a sample is tested on, so contributors only need 3.12.
+LINTING_VERSION = "3.12"
 
 # Error if a python version is missing
 nox.options.error_on_missing_interpreters = True
diff --git a/noxfile_config.py b/noxfile_config.py
index 0973c8621c7..162d52a104b 100644
--- a/noxfile_config.py
+++ b/noxfile_config.py
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@
 
 TEST_CONFIG_OVERRIDE = {
     # You can opt out from the test for specific Python versions.
-    "ignored_versions": ["3.8", "3.9", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"],
+    # By default, samples are tested on the minimum (3.12) and the
+    # latest stable (3.14) supported Python versions. Remove "3.13"
+    # from this list to also test on 3.13.
+    "ignored_versions": ["3.13"],
+    # Newly released Python versions are only tested when listed here,
+    # for example: "opt_in_versions": ["3.15"].
+    "opt_in_versions": [],
     # Old samples are opted out of enforcing Python type hints
     # All new samples should feature them
     "enforce_type_hints": True,