Lately, social media and online forums have been buzzing with rumors about new stimulus checks. Many people are wondering—are payments really on the way, or is it just speculation? The truth is that while a proposal has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, it is still in its very early stages and far from becoming law.
The Source of the Rumors
The current round of stimulus chatter comes from the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, introduced on July 28, 2025 by Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.
After its first reading, the bill was sent to the Senate Finance Committee, which is just the beginning of a long legislative process. Unless lawmakers advance it through multiple steps of debate, amendment, and voting, the bill will not move forward.
What the Bill Proposes
The plan aims to return money collected from tariffs on imports to American taxpayers. Instead of being spent by the federal government, that revenue would go directly to families through a refundable tax credit.
Here’s what the bill currently includes:
Minimum payment of $600 for each eligible adult.
$600 per dependent child.
A family of four (two adults, two children) could receive at least $2,400.
Payments could be higher if tariff revenues exceed projections.
Credits would apply to the 2025 tax year, meaning payments might not arrive until late 2025 or 2026.
Who Would Qualify?
The benefit phases out for higher-income households. The proposed thresholds are:
$75,000 adjusted gross income for single filers.
$112,500 for heads of household.
$150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Above these levels, payments would gradually decrease and eventually disappear.
How This Plan Differs from Past Stimulus Checks
Unlike pandemic-era stimulus payments funded through deficit spending, this proposal ties funding directly to tariff revenue. Senator Hawley argues that money raised from tariffs should support working families rather than expand government budgets.
Will Stimulus Checks Happen in 2025?
For now, nothing is guaranteed. The bill has only been introduced, and many proposed laws never make it out of committee. Even if it advances, the timeline for debate, amendments, and approval means payments wouldn’t come quickly. At best, taxpayers could see money sometime in 2026.
While the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025 has sparked real discussion, it’s important to separate fact from rumor. Right now, no new stimulus checks are approved.
The proposal would provide at least $600 per person, but it faces a long and uncertain path in Congress. For now, Coloradans and all Americans should view these payments as a possibility, not a guarantee.
