diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 419259878..0d5b70c2a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## v1.59.0 (2023-10-17)
+
+### Features
+
+ * use region property
+
+## v1.58.1 (2023-10-16)
+
+### Bug Fixes and Other Changes
+
+ * use separate aws session for python validation
+
 ## v1.58.0 (2023-10-16)
 
 ### Features
diff --git a/src/braket/_sdk/_version.py b/src/braket/_sdk/_version.py
index 4c7bbd320..ee48017dc 100644
--- a/src/braket/_sdk/_version.py
+++ b/src/braket/_sdk/_version.py
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@
    Version number (major.minor.patch[-label])
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.58.1.dev0"
+__version__ = "1.59.1.dev0"
diff --git a/src/braket/aws/aws_quantum_job.py b/src/braket/aws/aws_quantum_job.py
index 7f6fdfd05..76ff0648c 100644
--- a/src/braket/aws/aws_quantum_job.py
+++ b/src/braket/aws/aws_quantum_job.py
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def _is_valid_aws_session_region_for_job_arn(aws_session: AwsSession, job_arn: s
         bool: `True` when the aws_session region matches the job_arn region; otherwise `False`.
         """
         job_region = job_arn.split(":")[3]
-        return job_region == aws_session.braket_client.meta.region_name
+        return job_region == aws_session.region
 
     @staticmethod
     def _default_session_for_job_arn(job_arn: str) -> AwsSession:
diff --git a/src/braket/jobs/hybrid_job.py b/src/braket/jobs/hybrid_job.py
index 83ba9a9f0..521da7fe8 100644
--- a/src/braket/jobs/hybrid_job.py
+++ b/src/braket/jobs/hybrid_job.py
@@ -150,8 +150,7 @@ def hybrid_job(
         logger (Logger): Logger object with which to write logs, such as task statuses
             while waiting for task to be in a terminal state. Default is `getLogger(__name__)`
     """
-    aws_session = aws_session or AwsSession()
-    _validate_python_version(aws_session, image_uri)
+    _validate_python_version(image_uri, aws_session)
 
     def _hybrid_job(entry_point):
         @functools.wraps(entry_point)
@@ -209,8 +208,9 @@ def job_wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
     return _hybrid_job
 
 
-def _validate_python_version(aws_session: AwsSession, image_uri: str | None):
+def _validate_python_version(image_uri: str | None, aws_session: AwsSession | None = None):
     """Validate python version at job definition time"""
+    aws_session = aws_session or AwsSession()
     # user provides a custom image_uri
     if image_uri and image_uri not in built_in_images(aws_session.region):
         print(
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/braket/aws/test_aws_quantum_job.py b/test/unit_tests/braket/aws/test_aws_quantum_job.py
index ffc9bdb39..19b46d72b 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/braket/aws/test_aws_quantum_job.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/braket/aws/test_aws_quantum_job.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def fake_copy_session(region):
 
     _aws_session.copy_session.side_effect = fake_copy_session
     _aws_session.list_keys.return_value = ["job-path/output/model.tar.gz"]
-    _aws_session.region = "us-test-1"
+    _aws_session.region = job_region
 
     _braket_client_mock = Mock(meta=Mock(region_name=job_region))
     _aws_session.braket_client = _braket_client_mock
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def quantum_job(quantum_job_arn, aws_session):
 
 
 def test_equality(quantum_job_arn, aws_session, job_region):
-    new_aws_session = Mock(braket_client=Mock(meta=Mock(region_name=job_region)))
+    new_aws_session = Mock(region=job_region)
     quantum_job_1 = AwsQuantumJob(quantum_job_arn, aws_session)
     quantum_job_2 = AwsQuantumJob(quantum_job_arn, aws_session)
     quantum_job_3 = AwsQuantumJob(quantum_job_arn, new_aws_session)
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def test_quantum_job_constructor_invalid_region(aws_session):
 
 @patch("braket.aws.aws_quantum_job.boto3.Session")
 def test_quantum_job_constructor_explicit_session(mock_session, quantum_job_arn, job_region):
-    aws_session_mock = Mock(braket_client=Mock(meta=Mock(region_name=job_region)))
+    aws_session_mock = Mock(region=job_region)
     job = AwsQuantumJob(quantum_job_arn, aws_session_mock)
     assert job._aws_session == aws_session_mock
     assert job.arn == quantum_job_arn
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ def role_arn():
 
 @pytest.fixture(
     params=[
-        "arn:aws:braket:us-test-1::device/qpu/test/device-name",
+        "arn:aws:braket:us-west-2::device/qpu/test/device-name",
         "arn:aws:braket:::device/qpu/test/device-name",
     ]
 )
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ def test_no_region_routing_simulator(aws_session):
     )
 
     device_arn = "arn:aws:braket:::device/simulator/test/device-name"
-    device_not_found = f"Simulator '{device_arn}' not found in 'us-test-1'"
+    device_not_found = f"Simulator '{device_arn}' not found in 'us-west-2'"
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=device_not_found):
         AwsQuantumJob._initialize_session(aws_session, device_arn, logger)