Census Seeks Comments on Its Familiar Nationwide Survey Forms
Published Date: 11/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The Census Bureau is updating the American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey and wants your feedback by January 4, 2027. These surveys help gather important info about people and communities, affecting everyone who lives in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The goal is to keep the surveys useful while making them easier and less time-consuming for folks to complete.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Two ACS Questions Proposed for Removal in 2028
The Census Bureau proposes removing two American Community Survey questions—Solar Panels and Veterans Period of Military Service—from the ACS in 2028. These questions were identified as no longer having a mandatory or required federal use following the 2026 content review.
Expansion of Using Administrative Data to Skip Questions
Beginning as early as 2028, the Census Bureau intends to expand use of administrative data to replace or skip certain ACS/PRCS questions for sampled addresses. Questions that may be skipped when suitable administrative data are available include Agricultural Sales, Year Built, Number of Rooms, Number of Bedrooms, Units in Structure, Building Type, and Home Heating Fuel; the Bureau already implemented an adaptive approach for property acreage using administrative property tax data in January 2024.
Mandatory Survey Participation and Time Burden
The ACS and Puerto Rico Community Survey are mandatory for sampled households. The ACS samples about 3.54 million U.S. housing unit addresses and about 36,000 in Puerto Rico each year; the average household questionnaire takes 40 minutes. The total estimated annual respondents are 3,779,185 with an annual burden of 2,459,232 hours.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-22169, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2027 Commodity Flow Survey
The U.S. Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2027 Commodity Flow Survey, asking businesses about the goods they ship across the country. This survey helps track what’s moving, how far, and by what mode, giving a big-picture view of America’s trade and transportation. About 185,000 businesses will spend some time sharing their info, helping shape smart transportation and economic decisions without extra paperwork hassle.
2026-22171, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions (SOC)
The Census Bureau is asking to keep their Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions going for another three years without changes. This survey checks in monthly with builders and owners about new homes being built, sold, and finished, helping track the housing market. Around 19,353 new buildings are sampled yearly, with about 177,700 quick 5-minute interviews, and the current approval expires March 31, 2027.
2026-22117, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Conducting Research Into Company Alternative Reporting Options
The U.S. Census Bureau is asking for approval to try new, easier ways for businesses to share their data for surveys. This will help keep important economic info flowing while making it less of a hassle for companies. They’re inviting everyone to comment before moving forward, aiming to save time, cut costs, and protect privacy.
2026-21759, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; High-Frequency Surveys Program/Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS)
The Census Bureau wants your thoughts on updating the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS), which helps track how families are doing. This update keeps the survey fresh and useful without adding extra hassle. If you have ideas or concerns, speak up by December 28, 2026, so they can keep the survey running smoothly and on budget.
2026-21758, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; School District Review Program
The Census Bureau is updating its School District Review Program, which helps decide how education funds are shared across states. They want your feedback by December 28, 2026, to make sure the process is smooth and not too much work for schools. This update affects school districts nationwide and keeps funding fair without adding extra costs.
2026-21629, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Annual Business Survey
The Census Bureau is updating its Annual Business Survey to make it easier and better for businesses to share info about their research and development. This change affects U.S. businesses and aims to reduce paperwork while improving data quality. Comments on the update are open until December 21, 2026, so businesses and the public can weigh in before it’s finalized.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-22321, Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
Hey federal agencies! Here’s the latest list of labs and testing spots certified to do urine and oral fluid drug tests that meet all the official rules. If a lab loses its certification, it’s dropped from the list until it’s back in good standing. This monthly update keeps everyone in the loop and helps make sure drug testing stays fair and reliable—no surprises, no delays!
Next: 2026-22323, Notice of Public Meeting of the Virginia Advisory Committee; Cancellation of November Meeting and Revision to December Meeting Purpose and Duration
Heads up, Virginia Advisory Committee fans! The November 10 meeting is canceled, and the December 15 meeting is now shorter—just one hour—and focused on planning. If you’re involved or interested, mark your calendars and join online or by phone; no money changes here, just a schedule tweak.