`exclude-paths` ignoring every commit?

Hi, I'm trying to configure my monorepo release process. I want certain packages not to trigger releases for other packages. Here is my configuration:
```
{
"$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/googleapis/release-please/main/schemas/config.json",
"packages": {
"apps/email-templates": {
"exclude-paths": ["packages/aspire-next-config"]
},
"apps/keycloak-theme": {
"exclude-paths": ["packages/aspire-next-config"]
},
"apps/webapp-customer": {
"exclude-paths": ["apps/bff-backoffice"]
},
"apps/webapp-marketing": {
"exclude-paths": ["apps/bff-backoffice"]
},
"apps/webapp-backoffice": {
"exclude-paths": ["apps/bff-backoffice"]
},
"apps/bff-backoffice": {
"exclude-paths": [
"packages/aspire-ui",
"packages/aspire-icons",
"packages/aspire-next-config"
]

},
"release-type": "node",
"tag-separator": "@",
"separate-pull-requests": true,
"sequential-calls": true
}
```

I make changes within `apps/bff-backoffice`, commit with e.g. `feat(bff-backoffice): something`, open a PR, merge it, and a release PR is not generated for `bff-backoffice`.

I've also tried `git commit --allow-empty -m "feat(bff-backoffice): release 1.6.0" -m "Release-As: 1.6.0"`, and the same thing happens.

Is there something I'm not understanding about this config? I expect the above behaviour to generate a release PR for `bff-backoffice`.

Thanks for any help!