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Progress update as of October 2026
Throughout September, the team made steady progress on the transition from SAW to WA.gov. More applications moved into testing and production, and key parts of the new system—such as the chatbot, identity verification, and agency‑support tools—continued to improve. Although the chatbot needed several rounds of fixes, the team saw strong improvement by the end of the month, allowing more complete testing to begin.
At the end of September, the project was 65.9% complete overall, a measure that credits work in progress, including applications partway through migration. Applications that have fully completed migration stood at 63 of 224 (28.1%).
Behind the scenes, the project achieved important contract work, advanced security and testing plans, and strengthened migration readiness. Agencies continued to make progress preparing their applications for the transition, and work with the independent QA vendor candidates moved forward.
In the weeks ahead, the team will focus on preparing for the release of the Advanced Identity Verification and AskWA chatbot features, with the release date to be published once approved, and coordinating with agencies to confirm their migration timelines. The team will also continue improving communications and supporting agency readiness.
Read the full progress report (PDF).
- Overview
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Transitioning from SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to WA.gov Accounts
Washington state is modernizing how people access online government services. After more than 20 years, SecureAccess Washington (SAW) will be retired and replaced by WA.gov accounts by the end of 2027.
This statewide effort is led by WaTech's Digital Experience (DEX) Program. It supports Governor Ferguson’s Executive Order 25-06, which directs all state agencies to work together to improve digital services and adopt WA.gov as the state’s unified platform.
A modern approach to digital access
WA.gov accounts provide a single, secure sign-in for residents to access participating state services. This is more than a system replacement. It is a step forward in delivering services that are simpler, more secure, and easier to use.
With WA.gov accounts, residents will experience:
- One login across multiple state services
- Stronger privacy and security protections
- A more consistent and user-friendly experience
- Easier account recovery and support
This transition is a key part of the state’s broader effort to deliver digital services that put people first.
Why this change matters
SAW no longer meets current technology, security, or user experience standards. It requires multiple logins and creates barriers for both residents and agencies.
WA.gov accounts address these challenges by:
- Simplifying access to services
- Expanding access for all communities
- Strengthening security using modern standards
- Supporting integration with current and future technologies
- Providing a flexible, cloud-based platform that can scale with demand
What agencies need to know
All Washington state agencies are required to transition from SAW to WA.gov accounts as part of Executive Order 25-06.
The DEX Program is leading this effort and will provide tools, guidance, and hands-on support throughout the process.
- New applications are required to use WA.gov accounts as of January 31, 2026
- Existing SAW applications will transition in lanes through 2027
- SAW will be end of life Jan 1, 2028.
- How the transition will work
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More than 223 applications will move from SAW to WA.gov accounts. To manage this, we are using a lane-based approach instead of grouping applications into cohorts.
Think of it like a highway. Each application moves through a lane based on how much time and work it takes to get into the test environment. Some move through faster lanes, like HOV, while others take standard lanes, like Interstate or Highway 101.
All migrations will be complete by December 31, 2027.
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