diff --git a/.changeset/sturdy-geese-roam.md b/.changeset/sturdy-geese-roam.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0043c5ed1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/sturdy-geese-roam.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type: Fixed
+pr: 356
+---
+Accept JSON object input for state.patch so workflow state updates survive SDK retirement.
diff --git a/get-shit-done/bin/lib/state-command-router.cjs b/get-shit-done/bin/lib/state-command-router.cjs
index d0a435def..c0762b326 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/bin/lib/state-command-router.cjs
+++ b/get-shit-done/bin/lib/state-command-router.cjs
@@ -73,11 +73,28 @@ function routeStateCommand({ state, args, cwd, raw, error }) {
         null,
         () => {
           const patches = {};
-          for (let i = 2; i < args.length; i += 2) {
-            const key = args[i].replace(/^--/, '');
-            const value = args[i + 1];
-            if (key && value !== undefined) {
-              patches[key] = value;
+          if (args.length === 3 && typeof args[2] === 'string' && args[2].trim().startsWith('{')) {
+            let parsed;
+            try {
+              parsed = JSON.parse(args[2]);
+            } catch (err) {
+              error(`state patch: invalid JSON object: ${err.message}`);
+            }
+            if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== 'object' || Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+              error('state patch: JSON input must be an object of field/value pairs.');
+            }
+            for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(parsed)) {
+              if (key && value !== undefined) {
+                patches[key] = String(value);
+              }
+            }
+          } else {
+            for (let i = 2; i < args.length; i += 2) {
+              const key = args[i].replace(/^--/, '');
+              const value = args[i + 1];
+              if (key && value !== undefined) {
+                patches[key] = value;
+              }
             }
           }
           state.cmdStatePatch(cwd, patches, raw);
diff --git a/tests/state.test.cjs b/tests/state.test.cjs
index 42c06f4a8..98aab11b8 100644
--- a/tests/state.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/state.test.cjs
@@ -922,6 +922,27 @@ describe('cmdStatePatch and cmdStateUpdate (state patch, state update)', () => {
     assert.ok(updated.includes('**Last Activity:** 2024-01-15'), 'Last Activity should be unchanged');
   });
 
+  test('state patch accepts JSON object input from workflows', () => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, '.planning', 'STATE.md'), stateMd);
+
+    const result = runGsdTools([
+      'query',
+      'state.patch',
+      JSON.stringify({
+        Status: 'Complete',
+        'Current Phase': '04',
+      }),
+    ], tmpDir);
+    assert.ok(result.success, `Command failed: ${result.error}`);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(result.output);
+    assert.deepEqual(output.updated.sort(), ['Current Phase', 'Status'].sort());
+
+    const updated = fs.readFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, '.planning', 'STATE.md'), 'utf-8');
+    assert.ok(updated.includes('**Status:** Complete'), 'Status should be updated to Complete');
+    assert.ok(updated.includes('**Current Phase:** 04'), 'Current Phase should be updated to 04');
+  });
+
   test('state patch reports failed fields that do not exist', () => {
     fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, '.planning', 'STATE.md'), stateMd);