In the face of inflation worries, local politicians are trying to get cash to their citizens any way they can. An analysis by Yahoo Finance finds that at least 20 states have so far enacted plans to send checks into people's bank accounts.

The efforts are made possible thanks to state budgets that currently are flush with funds and typically presented as a way to help people deal with inflation at a 40-year high.

The most aggressive move of late came last week when California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a budget which included a "Middle Class Tax Refund" that will send checks of up to $1,050 to qualifying Golden State residents beginning in October. Newsom says around 23 million Californians are in line for the funds.

A focus on ‘working families and those who are struggling’

But California is far from the only one. States across the geographic and political spectrum doling out the cash — which are often described as either direct payments or one-time tax rebates — to their citizens. In Maine, some citizens are receiving $850 payments, and then — over 5,000 miles away — some Hawaii residents will soon be getting a tax rebate of $300 per person.

There are a range of plans: from the "Colorado Dividend" of $400 to a "Relief Rebate" of $300 in Delaware to an "automatic taxpayer refund" program in Indiana that promises $125 checks.

Many of the moves are being pushed by Democratic politicians, though not exclusively. New Jersey’s Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed legislation to mail checks for up to $500, while Gov. Henry McMaster in deep-red South Carolina has plans for checks of up to $800 for his state’s residents.

And it appears no amount is too small. Illinois is set to provide income tax rebates of $50, while Idaho has plans for a $75 rebate on the books.

Other targeted programs

Other states, meanwhile, have enacted programs more directly targeted to segments of their population.

New York and West Virginia have programs to send checks to help homeowners in those states. The New York program is expected to aid an estimated 2.5 million residents.