# 2026-01308: Census Bureau Declutters Its Sacred Seal Regulations Overnight

2026-01308, Streamlining the Regulations Governing the Official Seal of the Census Bureau, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, Census Bureau published 2026-01-23, effective 2026-01-23 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01308
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-01308
- Title: Streamlining the Regulations Governing the Official Seal of the Census Bureau
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; Census Bureau
- Citation: 91 FR 2855
- Published: 2026-01-23
- Effective: 2026-01-23
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0607-AA70
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Census Bureau Declutters Its Sacred Seal Regulations Overnight

## Summary

The Census Bureau is cleaning up its rules about the official seal by removing extra, confusing language and putting everything into one clear rule. This change affects anyone who uses or manages the seal and takes effect right away on January 23, 2026. It won’t cost extra money but will make the rules easier to understand and follow.

## Abstract

By this rule, the Census Bureau (Bureau) is amending its regulations that govern the Bureau's official seal. Specifically, this rule removes unnecessary regulatory language and consolidates all of the necessary language into a single regulation. This action is intended to streamline the Bureau's regulations and promote clarity by eliminating redundancy and potential inconsistencies between the regulatory language and the underlying statutory language of 13 U.S.C. 3.

## Effects PRIA read

- Census Seal Rules Simplified: benefit, low. The Census Bureau consolidated and clarified the official seal rules by removing 15 CFR 100.1 and 100.3 and revising 15 CFR 100.2 to be the single, approved description of the seal. You (and anyone who uses or manages the seal) are affected by this change, which takes effect January 23, 2026.
- No New Paperwork or Costs: benefit, low. The Census Bureau states this rule will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements and will not cause extra costs. The Bureau also waived prior notice and comment and made the rule effective January 23, 2026.

## Related documents

- [2026-20249](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20249): Notice of Data Sharing Activity, 2026-10-02
- [2026-20155](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20155): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01
- [2026-20167](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20167): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01
- [2026-20153](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20153): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01
- [2026-19301](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19301): Proposed Data Sharing Activity, 2026-09-22
- [2026-18481](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18481): Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions, 2026-09-10

## Sources
- [2026-01308 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/23/2026-01308/streamlining-the-regulations-governing-the-official-seal-of-the-census-bureau)
- [2026-01308 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-23/pdf/2026-01308.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-01293, Establishment of Class E Airspace; Washburn, ND](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01293)
- [Next: 2026-01316, Safety Zone; St. Clair River, St. Clair, MI](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01316)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01308 (as of 2026-06-11).