Harriet Tubman gets the $20 bill—finally codifying a 2016 promise
H.R. 1976 — Woman on the Twenty Act of 2025 · Filed by Joyce Beatty (D-OH) · 39 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 10, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill mandates that the U.S. $20 bill be redesigned to prominently feature Harriet Tubman on the front, replacing Andrew Jackson. The Treasury Secretary must release preliminary designs by December 31, 2026, and all new $20 notes printed after December 31, 2028 must include Tubman's portrait. This fulfills a 2016 Treasury Department commitment to honor the first woman on U.S. paper currency.
Why we flagged it
This bill mandates the redesign of the $20 bill to feature Harriet Tubman on the front, fulfilling a 2016 Treasury Department announcement. It is a straightforward commemorative measure with no hidden provisions or narrow beneficiaries.
What the text implies
- Currency redesign requires coordination across the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Federal Reserve, and commercial banks to phase out old notes and distribute new ones—a multi-year logistical undertaking with modest but real operational costs.
- The December 31, 2028 deadline creates a hard constraint on production timelines; any delays in design approval or manufacturing could create compliance pressure on Treasury.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The redesign honors a pivotal figure in American abolitionist history and increases representation of women and Black Americans on currency, strengthening civic recognition of underrepresented historical contributions. There are no direct costs to citizens; the redesign is a normal part of currency maintenance cycles.