Proposed Federal Census Changes

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Proposed Federal Census Changes

The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed changes to the Federal Decennial Census and is accepting comments on their proposal until November 2, 2026.

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Proposed Federal Census Changes
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MAPC >> Resources >> Data >> Proposed Federal Census Changes

The Census provides information that is critical to everything from plans for our future, resources in our community and how we are represented in Congress.  The proposed changes would have significant implications for how residents are counted in our communities, how our municipalities plan and provide services, and how Massachusetts is represented in Congress.

Based on the regulatory process the current comment window is the opportunity to offer feedback. The proposed rule's comment period, which would have ended on October 13, 2026, was extended until November 2, 2026.

 

Questions?

Jessie Partridge Guerrero
[email protected]

Georgia Barlow
[email protected]

Leah Robins
[email protected]

 

How to Take Action

Municipal Leader Letter- Sign on by Tuesday, October 27
MAPC invites you to join us in objecting to these proposed changes by signing onto this letter. If you are interested in adding your name, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM before Tuesday, October 27.

Organization Letter- Sign on by Tuesday, October 27
MAPC invites you to join us in objecting to these proposed changes by signing onto this letter. If you are interested in adding your name, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM before Tuesday, October 27.

Individual Letters
MAPC invites you to use this letter as a template for your own submission on behalf of your municipality or yourself as an individual. Comment letters that describe your particular concerns are particularly important to the consideration of this rule.

Summary of Proposed Changes

  • Exclude any non-U.S. citizens without a green card--including legally permitted international students, workers, and refugees--from the apportionment count that determines representation in Congress as well as much of the federal funding allocations to states;
  • Add a citizenship question for the purpose of excluding non-citizens from the apportionment count;
  • Change and make more convoluted the definition of "residency" from where a person lives most of the year to where they live most of the winter period of January through March (under this new definition, a “snowbird” who lives in Massachusetts but spends each winter in Florida would be counted in Florida);
  • Remove all questions on race or ethnicity--for the first time in U.S. Census history, dating back to the first decennial census in 1790; and 
  • Ban current and future questions about sexual orientation.

Federal Register Full Text of Proposed Rule

Resources

MAPC Census Proposed Changes Explainer 2026

Massachusetts Oversight Hearings

From the Census

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