Secretary of State urges state investment now to prepare for 2030 census amid federal uncertainty

Secretary of State William Galvin told the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on March 5 that Massachusetts must step up its 2030 census preparatory work now because the U.S. Commerce Department has not yet initiated the activities the state normally relies on.

Galvin — who serves as the state’s federal census liaison in addition to his constitutional duties — told lawmakers that federal delays in beginning “current address list” and other preparatory programs mean Massachusetts may have to do more of the local address and group‑quarters mapping work itself. He urged additional funding for the Donohue Institute at UMass Amherst (the state’s census partner) and recommended at least a further $500,000 to help municipalities compile current address inventories, count group‑quarters and otherwise prepare for the 2030 enumeration.

Why it matters: an accurate 2030 census count affects federal funding allocations and congressional apportionment; undercounts can short‑change states and localities in federal formula grants. Galvin emphasized the state’s vulnerability because of large student and immigrant populations — groups that were at risk of undercounting during 2020.

What happened next: the secretary asked the committee to consider augmenting House 1 to support more proactive municipal work now, rather than waiting for federal instructions. He said the state’s experience in 2020 — including court fights over counting rules — showed the importance of starting early to assemble accurate address lists and to document group‑quarters.

Ending: Committees and the administration will follow up as the budget process continues; Galvin said he would provide a refined, itemized estimate of needs for local outreach and address‑list support.