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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 Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure to publish the proposed amendment for public comment. During the comment period, the public is encouraged to submit written comments and may also request to testify at public hearings on the proposed amendment.  

July Publication

In 2016, the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure approved publication of proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3015 and proposed new Rule 3015.1 for a comment period from July 1, 2016 through October 3, 2016.

Read the text of the proposed amendments and supporting materials:

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to Rules 3015 and proposed new Rule 3015.1 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (pdf)

August Publication

Also in 2016, the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure approved publication of proposed amendments to the following rules and forms for a comment period from August 12, 2016 through February 15, 2017.

  • Appellate Rules 8, 11, 25, 28.1, 29, 31, 39, 41, and Form 4
  • Bankruptcy Rules 3002.1, 5005, 8002, 8006, 8011, 8013, 8015, 8016, 8017, new Rule 8018.1, 8022, 8023, and new Part VIII Appendix; and Official Forms 309F, 417A, 417C, 425A, 425B, 425C, and 426
  • Civil Rules 5, 23, 62, and 65.1
  • Criminal Rules 12.4, 45, and 49

Read the text of the proposed amendments and supporting materials:

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Procedure (pdf)

Public Hearings

Members of the public who wish to present testimony may appear at public hearings on the proposed amendments.

How to Submit and Review Comments on the Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules

Your comments are welcome on all aspects of each proposal. The advisory committees will review all timely comments, which are made part of the official record and are available to the public.

How to Submit Comments:

Comments and supporting files must be submitted electronically using the Regulations.gov portal. After choosing the appropriate link below, click the "Submit a Comment" link. This will display the comment web form. You can then enter your submitter information and attach your comment as a file (up to 10MB), or type your comment directly on the web form. When you have finished attaching or typing your comment, click the "Preview Comment" link to review. Once you are satisfied with your comment, click the "Submit" button to send your comment to the advisory committees. Upon completion, you will receive a tracking number for your submission.

Detailed instructions on how to submit a comment are given in the Regulations.gov FAQs.