On February 19, 2026, the Illinois Supreme Court announced significant changes to the state's civil practice rules, specifically regarding the rules governing discovery in civil cases. The changes, which were approved by the Court in a unanimous decision, are set to go into effect on March 1, 2026.One of the key changes to the discovery rules is the implementation of a new proportionality standard. Under this standard, parties in civil cases will be required to tailor their discovery requests to be proportional to the needs of the case. This is aimed at reducing the burden of discovery on parties and ensuring that the discovery process is efficient and cost-effective.In addition to the new proportionality standard, the Supreme Court also announced several other changes to the discovery rules. These include guidelines for the preservation of electronically stored information (ESI), limits on the number of interrogatories that parties can propound, and restrictions on the use of expert witnesses in discovery.The changes to the discovery rules were met with mixed reactions from legal practitioners in Illinois. Some welcomed the new proportionality standard, believing that it will help streamline the discovery process and lead to quicker resolution of cases. Others, however, expressed concerns about the potential impact of the new rules on their ability to fully investigate and prepare their cases.Overall, the changes to the discovery rules represent a significant shift in the way civil cases are litigated in Illinois. The Supreme Court hopes that these changes will help reduce the costs and delays associated with discovery, and ultimately lead to a more efficient and fair civil justice system in the state.