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
Modernizing Federal Communications Commission's National Environmental Policy Act Rules: Report/Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Issued
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking styled: In the Matter of - Modernizing the Commission’s National Environmental Policy Act Rules (“Proposed Rulemaking”). See WT Docket No. 25-217 (Oct. 1, 2026). The FCC describes…
Methane Monitoring Science Act: U.S. Senators Curtis and Hickenlooper Introduce Bipartisan Legislation
United States Senators John Curtis (Utah) and John Hickenlooper (Colorado) have introduced the Methane Monitoring Science Act (“Act”). They describe the Act as bipartisan legislation to help ensure that advances in American science and technology are effectively leveraged to: Improve understanding…
Stormwater Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Malvern Construction Site Operator Enter into Consent Administrative Order
The CAO provides that DMSC operates a construction stormwater site located in Malvern, Arkansas. ADEQ is stated to have investigated a complaint at the site on September 26, 2024. DSMC is stated to have provided written response to the agency regarding inspection results on January 31, 2025, and…
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lists Updates to Modernize Waste Regulations to Support Economic Growth
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) listed on October 21st what it described as: … Updates to Modernize Waste Regulations to Support Economic Growth (“Update”). EPA recognizes in the Update the 50th anniversary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”). The…
Transportation/Hazardous Materials: U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Interpretive Letter Addressing Propane Storage Containers
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in a October 14th interpretive letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to transportation of ASME propane storage containers, with respect to requirements for consumer…