diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 42f0d297a..a1882a529 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ updates:
     target-branch: 'develop'
     schedule:
       interval: 'weekly'
+    ignore:
+      # See notes in welcome_new_contributors.yml for details on this.
+      - dependency-name: 'actions/first-interaction'
+        versions: ['*']
     commit-message:
       prefix: 'chore(deps)'
     labels:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/welcome_new_contributors.yml b/.github/workflows/welcome_new_contributors.yml
index 4c4860c25..0f1f05c17 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/welcome_new_contributors.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/welcome_new_contributors.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       pull-requests: write
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/first-interaction@v3
+      # NOTE TO DEVELOPER: Per #9447 this is pinned to v1.3.0 and all updates
+      # have been disabled for it. There are some largely incompatibilities on
+      # v2 and v3 of the action that, without resolution, will break the first
+      # interaction experience for new contributors. This dependency should not
+      # be upgraded until those issues are resolved.
+      - uses: actions/first-interaction@v1.3.0
         with:
           repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           pr-message: >