diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1d7f4ff..c823a4c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 Format: [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
+## [1.3.0] - 2026-07-07
+
+### Added
+
+- **`release.env` dotenv artifact** — on every real release (not `--dry-run`) a `release.env` file is written to the repository root containing `NEXT_VERSION=<tag>`; the file is never committed, allowing GitLab CI to expose it as a dotenv artifact and pass the version to downstream jobs (deploy, notify, etc.)
+
 ## [1.2.0] - 2026-07-07
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0af7b2b..0b22148 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # releaser
 
-![release](https://img.shields.io/badge/release-v1.2.0-blue.svg)
+![release](https://img.shields.io/badge/release-v1.3.0-blue.svg)
 
 A CI-friendly release automation tool for GitFlow workflows using Conventional Commits.
 
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index c14268b..18a0fe7 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
 - [x] ~~Colored, structured CLI output~~ — ✓ shipped v1.2.0 (`·` / `✓` / `!` symbols, `▸` section headers in verbose, TTY-aware ANSI colors)
 - [x] ~~Name and version header on every run~~ — ✓ shipped v1.2.0
 - [x] ~~Default tag prefix changed to empty~~ — ✓ shipped v1.2.0 (bare `1.2.3` tags by default; opt in to `v` prefix via config)
+- [x] ~~`release.env` dotenv artifact~~ — ✓ shipped v1.3.0 (`NEXT_VERSION=<tag>` written on every release for GitLab CI downstream jobs)
 - [ ] Documentation site
 
 ## Future / backlog