Between the Lines Blog
The LEARNSing Curve: Navigating Arkansas Education Law
A Short Survey of The LEARNS Act Three years later, the Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking, and Safety Act (“LEARNS Act” or the “Act”) continues to reshape Arkansas education law. This article surveys the Act’s major provisions: (1) the Education Freedom Account program…
NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group Advances Proposed Amendments to Model 440 and Model 450
On July 22, 2026, the NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group met virtually to discuss proposed amendments to the Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (Model #440) and the Insurance Holding Company System Model Regulation (Model #450). Formed in November 2025 under the Financial…
The NAIC Data Breach: A Turning Point for Data Collection and Privacy in the Insurance Industry
On June 17, 2026, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publicly disclosed that it had identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems. The breach—attributed to the threat actor group ShinyHunters and part of a broader campaign exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in…
Essential Employment Documents and Procedures for Growing Businesses
As your business grows and you begin hiring employees, the excitement of expansion can sometimes overshadow the critical need for proper employment documentation and procedures. Yet the foundation you lay during this stage of growth can make the difference between a thriving workplace and costly…
The Non-Compete Playbook: Everything Arkansas Employers Should Have in their Arsenal
A crucial employee leaves for a competitor. A promising candidate shows up carrying a non-compete from their former employer. Either way, the questions hit quickly: What can we do? What should we avoid? And what paperwork should we have in place to handle this sort of thing? What employers should…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Preemption for Common Law Tort Claims Concerning the Transportation of Gasoline: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Administrative Determination Issued
September 15, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) issued on September 9th a notice styled: Hazardous Materials: Administrative Determination of Preemption for Common Law Tort Claims Concerning the Transportation of Gasoline (“Preemption Determination”). PHMSA is providing a…
Air Enforcement: Mississippi Commission of Environmental Quality and Southaven Gas-Fired Combustion Turbines Operator Enter Into Agreed Order
September 15, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Mississippi Commission of Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) and MZX Tech LLC (“MZX”) entered into a July 30th Agreed Order (“AO”) addressing the operation of what is described as: … sixty-nine (69) portable, temporary simple cycle natural gas-fired combustion turbines… The AO provides that MZX…
National Environmental Education Advisory Council: U.S. EPA Administrator Zeldin Announces Bill Jones (Arkansas Game & Fish Commissioner) as One of Ten New Members
September 15, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in a September 14th news release 10 new members of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council (“NEEAC”). Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Commissioner Bill Jones was named as one of the ten new…
Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit: Internal Revenue Service Issues Notice 2026-53
September 14, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on September 8th issued guidance addressing the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit (“PTC”). See Notice 2026-53 (“Notice”). The Notice provides: 2026 emissions rate table used to calculate the clean fuel production credit. Guidance on use of…
Negligence/RCRA Citizen Suit Action: Federal Court Addresses Applicability of Sovereign Immunity to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
September 14, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States District Court (W.D. New York) (“Court”) addressed in a September 10th Order issues arising out of remediation of hazardous substances at a New York superfund site. See Donna De La Torre, et al., v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, et al., 2026 WL 2660064…