This bill mandates that all $20 bills printed after 2028 will feature Harriet Tubman on the front and requires the preliminary design to be released to the public by the end of 2026.
Joyce Beatty
Representative
OH-3
The "Woman on the Twenty Act of 2025" mandates that all $20 bills printed after December 31, 2028, will feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on the front. It also requires the Secretary of the Treasury to release the preliminary design of the new $20 bill to the public by December 31, 2026.
Harriet Tubman Mandated for $20 Bill Starting 2029 Under New Bill; Design Preview Due 2026
The "Woman on the Twenty Act of 2025" directs the U.S. Treasury Secretary to ensure all $20 Federal Reserve notes printed after December 31, 2028, feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on the front. This legislative proposal sets a firm timeline, requiring the Treasury Secretary to publicly release the preliminary design for this new $20 bill by December 31, 2026, as outlined in Section 3 of the bill.
A Change in Your Wallet
This bill mandates a significant update to one of the most commonly used pieces of U.S. currency. If enacted, the familiar face of Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill would eventually be replaced by Harriet Tubman. The bill's findings (Section 2) note that while various historical male figures, primarily presidents and founding fathers, have adorned U.S. paper money since the late 1800s, no woman has ever been featured. This act aims to change that by placing Tubman, an abolitionist and political activist, prominently on the twenty.
The Road to Redesign
Getting a new face onto currency isn't instant. Section 3 lays out a clear two-step timeline. First, the Treasury needs to finalize and show the public what this new Tubman $20 will look like by the end of 2026. Think of this as the blueprint reveal. Second, the actual printing presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing won't start churning out these new Tubman notes for circulation until after December 31, 2028. This means the Jackson $20s will still be printed and used for several years, and will likely co-circulate with the new Tubman notes for some time after 2029.
More Than Just Money
The bill itself acknowledges the historical context, referencing a 2016 announcement by the Treasury Secretary about plans to feature Tubman on the $20, along with other women and civil rights figures on the $10 and $5 notes (Section 2). While those previous plans haven't fully materialized, this act creates a specific legal requirement and deadline focused solely on placing Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. It represents a concrete step towards diversifying the historical figures represented on everyday American currency.