Presented here is information about recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts has information about rules amendments longer ago.

Public Comment

• Proposed Amendments Published for Public Comment: When an advisory committee recommends an amendment to the rules, it must obtain the approval of the Judicial Conference's standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure to publish the proposed amendment for public comment. During the comment period, which typically runs from August to February, the public is encouraged to submit written comments and may also request to testify at public hearings on the proposed amendment.

 
Potentially Effective December 1, 2025

• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 6 and 39); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 3002.1 and 8006 and forms 410, 410C13-M1, 410C13-M1R, 410C13-N, 410C13-NR, 410C13-M2, and 410C13-M2R); and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 16, 26, and new rule 16.1).

 
Potentially Effective December 1, 2024

• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 32, 35, and 40 and appendix on length limits); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, and 9006; new rule 8023.1; official form 410A; and all restyled rules); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 12); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (613, 801, 804, and 1006 and new rule 107).
• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 32, 33, and 40 and appendix on length limits); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, 9006; new rule 8023.1; form 410A; and restyled rules parts VII through IX); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 12); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rules 611, 613, 801, 804, and 1006).

 
Potentially Effective December 1, 2023

• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 2, 4, 26, and 45); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 3011, 8003, and 9006; new Rule 9038; and forms 101, 309E1, 309E2, and 417A); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 6, 15, and 72, and new Rule 87); the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rules 16, 45, and 56, and new Rule 62); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rules 106, 615, and 702).
• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 2 and 4); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 3002.1, 3011, and 8003; new rule 9038; forms 101, 309E1, 309E2, and 417A; new forms 410C13-1N, 410C13-1R, 410C13-10C, 410C13-10NC, and 410C13-10R; and restyled rules parts III through VI); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 15, and 72 and new rule 87); the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (new rule 62); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rules 106, 615, and 702).

 
Effective December 1, 2022

• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 25 and 42); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012, 2015, 3002, 3010, 3011, 3014, 3016, 3017.1, 3018, 3019, 5005, 7004, and 8023; new rule 3017.2; and form 122B to become effective December 1, 2021); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 7.1 and new Supplemental Rules for Social Security Review Actions); and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rule 16).
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 25 and 42); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012, 2015, 3002, 3010, 3011, 3014, 3016, 3017.1, 3018, 3019, 5005, 7004, and 8023; new rule 3017.2; and form 122B to become effective December 1, 2021); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (new Supplemental Rules for Social Security Review Actions); and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rule 16).
• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rule 25); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012, 2015, 3002, 3010, 3011, 3014, 3016, 3017.1, 3018, 3019, 5005, 7004, and 8023; new rule 3017.2; forms 101, 122B, 201, 309E-1, 309F-1, 309F-2, 314, 315, and 425A; and restyled rules parts I and II); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 12 and new Supplemental Rules for Social Security Review Actions); and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rule 16).

 
Effective December 1, 2021

• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 3 and 6 and forms 1 and 2) and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036).
• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 3, 6, and 42 and forms 1 and 2); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036); and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 7.1).

 
Effective December 1, 2020

• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 35 and 40); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 2002, 2004, 8012, 8013, 8015, and 8021 and form 122A-1); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 30(b)(6)); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rule 404).
• Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 35 and 40); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 2002, 2004, and 8012); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 30); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rule 404).

 
Effective December 1, 2019

• Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Evidence 2019—The Residual Hearsay Exception (video tutorial).
• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Packages Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 3, 5, 13, 21, 25, 26, 26.1, 28, 32, and 39); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 4001, 6007, 9036, and 9037); the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rule 5 of the rules governing habeas corpus proceedings and new rule 16.1); and the Federal Rule of Evidence (rule 807).

 
Effective December 1, 2018

• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 8, 11, 25, 26, 28.1, 29, 31, 39, and 41 and forms 4 and 7); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 3002.1, 5005, 7004, 7062, 8002, 8006, 8007, 8010, 8011, 8013, 8015, 8016, 8017, 8021, 8022, and 9025; new rule 8018.1; new part VIII appendix; and forms 417A and 417C); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 5, 23, 62, and 65.1); and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rules 12.4, 45, and 49).

 
Effective December 1, 2017

• Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Evidence 2017—Self-Authenticating Electronic Evidence (video tutorial).
• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
• Amendments Packages Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rule 4(a)(4)(B)); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1001, 1006(b), 1015(b), 2002, 3002, 3007, 3012, 3015, 4003, 5009, 7001, and 9009; new rule 3015.1; and new form 113); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 4(m)); and the Federal Rules of Evidence (rules 803(16) and 902).

 
Effective December 1, 2016

• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (rules 4, 5, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28.1, 29, 32, 35, and 40; forms 1, 5, and 6; and new form 7); the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 1010, 1011, 2002, 3002.1, and 9006(f) and new rule 1012); the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 4, 6, and 82); and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (rules 4, 41, and 45).
• Supplemental Amendments Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (rules 7008, 7012, 7016, 9027, and 9033, the Stern amendments).

 
Effective December 1, 2015

• Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Civil Rules 2015 (video tutorials).
• The Chief Justice's 2015 Year-End Report.
• House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
• Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress: Proposed amendments to the Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (rule 1007) and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (rules 1, 4, 16, 26, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37, and 55 and the abrogation of rule 84 and the appendix of forms).
• Civil Rules Redline.
• PowerPoint Presentation of Civil Rules Amendments.
• District of Maryland's Civil Rules Amendments Comparison Chart.