SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to WA.gov Accounts

Progress update for April 2026

Reporting period: March 2026

During this reporting period, the project continued advancing the minimum viable product while stabilizing the platform following the 1.6 release. The team focused on strengthening core functionality, improving environments, and preparing for release readiness.

Progress also continued in agency readiness and communications. Updated Design and Content Toolkit materials were published, and the SecureAccess Washington to WA.gov organizational change management and communications forum launched to support coordination with agency partners.

While steady progress continues, risks remain related to environment consistency, vendor dependencies, and limited staff capacity. Focus now shifts to completing MVP enhancements, finalizing the technology budget, and strengthening readiness for release

Overview

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

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

This transition is a key part of the state’s broader effort to deliver digital services that put people first.

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

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.

Every application will have a scheduled date by April 1, 2026, and all migrations will be complete by December 31, 2027.