Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Gets Hard Deadlines: Design Due 2026, Printing Starts 2029

If you’ve been waiting for the $20 bill redesign featuring Harriet Tubman, this bill sets the clock. The Woman on the Twenty Act of 2025 is short, sweet, and focused on making sure the long-promised change to our paper money actually happens. It legally binds the U.S. Treasury to specific, non-negotiable deadlines for the new twenty-dollar note, making it clear that the current Andrew Jackson design is on its way out.

The Countdown to Currency Change

This legislation cuts through the bureaucratic delays by setting two firm dates. First, the Secretary of the Treasury must publicly show the preliminary design for the new $20 bill—the one with Harriet Tubman on the front—no later than December 31, 2026 (SEC. 3). Think of this as the official sneak peek. Second, and more importantly, the bill establishes a hard legal cutoff: after December 31, 2028, the U.S. Treasury is legally prohibited from printing any new $20 bills that do not feature Harriet Tubman’s portrait on the front (SEC. 3). This means that by 2029, every new twenty-dollar bill entering circulation must carry her image.

Why This Matters for Your Wallet

While this bill won't change the value of the $20 bill in your pocket today, it locks in a massive symbolic and logistical change. It addresses the fact that, as the bill notes (SEC. 2), no woman has ever been featured on the front of U.S. paper currency. For the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, this means they have a clear, enforceable mandate to finalize the complex process of redesigning a major banknote, which includes implementing new security features and printing standards. For everyday people, it means that the bills we use to pay for groceries or gas will finally reflect a broader piece of American history, fulfilling a commitment first announced years ago.

The Bureaucratic Lift

This isn't just about swapping out a picture; redesigning currency is a massive undertaking involving security, printing logistics, and calibration of vending machines and ATMs across the country. The bill essentially puts the Treasury on the hook for the costs and logistical challenges of implementing this large-scale change by the set deadlines. By being so specific with the dates (2026 and 2028), the legislation eliminates any wiggle room for indefinite delays, ensuring that the necessary government machinery gets moving to meet the public expectation for this long-awaited redesign.