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
National Environmental Policy Act/Natural Gas Plant: Federal Appellate Court Addresses Whether to Overturn Vacatur Order Pending TVA Appeal on the Merits
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (“6th Circuit”) addresses in an October 16th Opinion a National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) issue arising out of the construction of a natural gas plant. See APPALACHIAN VOICES; CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY; SIERRA CLUB v. TENNESSEE…
Lead-Based Paint/Toxic Substances Control Act Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Elgin, South Carolina Lessor Enter into Consent Agreement
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Empire Property Management Group, LLC (“Empire”) entered into a September 14th Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CA”) addressing alleged violations of the regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart F, implementing the Toxic Substance…
Arkansas Department of Agriculture: November 10th Arkansas State Plant Board Bureau of Standards Committee Scheduled
The Arkansas State Plant Board Bureau of Standards Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 10, 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 for the meeting include: Regular Business Roll call Quarterly…
Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards/Clean Air Act: Center for Biological Diversity Notice of Intent to Sue U.S. EPA for Mandated Revisions to Lead/Ozone
The Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”) sent an October 1st letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) styled: Clean Air Act Notice of Intent to Sue for Failure to Complete Mandatory Reviews of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead and Ozone…
Wind Energy Facilities/Local Legislative Bodies: Arkansas Attorney General Opinion Addressing Act 945 of 2025
The Arkansas Attorney General (“AG”) addressed in an Opinion various questions regarding Act 945 of 2025. See Opinion No. 2026-060. The AG was responding to questions from State Representative Brad Hall of Van Buren. The questions addressed included: If a wind energy facility is deemed exempt…