- Fixed bug that caused a resource to include patch directives when using strategic merge patch against a non-existent field. ([#117568](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/117568), [@alexzielenski](https://github.com/alexzielenski))

- resource.k8s.io/ResourceClaim (alpha API): The strategic merge patch strategy for the `status.reservedFor` array was changed so that a strategic-merge-patch can now add individual entries. This change may break clients using strategic merge patch to update status, which rely on the previous behavior (replacing the entire array).

  joining `etcd` members is now enabled by default. ([#120228](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120228), [@pacoxu](https://github.com/pacoxu))

- Introduce `v1beta3` for Priority and Fairness with the following changes to the API spec:
  - rename 'assuredConcurrencyShares' (located under `spec.limited') to 'nominalConcurrencyShares'.
  - apply strategic merge patch annotations to 'Conditions' of flowschemas and `prioritylevelconfigurations`. ([#112306](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/112306), [@tkashem](https://github.com/tkashem))