Between the Lines Blog
Letting Growth Fund Growth: Why Issue 3 Matters for Arkansas
October 28, 2026
by Robbi Riggs Watson
In 2024, I joined a group of Arkansas attorneys, economic development professionals, and community leaders who had one goal in mind: creating an economic development proposal that would help Arkansas communities compete for jobs, investment, and growth. Over the next year, I and other Mitchell…
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…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Waters of the United States/Clean Water Act: American Exploration & Mining Association Comments on U.S. EPA Supplemental Proposed Rule
The American Exploration & Mining Association (“AEMA”) submitted October 9th comments addressing the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s: Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States (“Supplemental Proposed Rule”). See Docket No…
Transportation/Hazardous Materials: U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Interpretive Letter Addressing Sharps Containers
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in an October 15th interpretive letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to transportation of sharps containers in wheeled racks. See Reference No. 25-0165. PHMSA was…
Arkansas Department of Agriculture: November 6 Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Committee Meeting Scheduled
The Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Committee will meet on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the board room at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR. Agenda items include: Proposed Enforcement Action Review Pesticide Section Update …
PM2.5/U.S. EPA September 30th Letter Describing Intended Approach for Arkansas Area Designations: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Response
Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (“E&E”) Secretary Shane Khoury sent an October 30th letter to United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Region 6 addressing the federal agency’s September 30, 2026 “120-day Letter” on Intended Area Designations for the 2024 Primary Annual…
Cooling the Cloud/Considerations for Water Utilities Evaluating Data Center Development: American Water Works Association Issues Report
The American Water Works Association (“AWWA”) issued a report titled: … Cooling the Cloud: Considerations for Water Utilities Evaluating Data Center Development (“Report”). AWWA describes the Report as: …. a practical planning and decision-making framework for utilities, addressing present and…