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
Wastewater Lagoons/Office of Wastewater Management: U.S. EPA Issues Updated Fact Sheets for Aerated/Partial Mix and Facultative Lagoons
November 12, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Wastewater Management (“OWM”) issued September 2026 updated Wastewater Technology Fact Sheets for: Aerated, Partial Mix Lagoons (“APMLs”). Facultative Lagoons (“FLs”). Wastewater lagoons (sometimes denominated wastewater…
Transportation/Used Oil Enforcement: Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Mobile Used Oil Transportation Company Enter into Consent Order
November 12, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) and Liquid Environmental Solutions of AL, LLC (“LES”) entered into a Consent Order (“CO”) addressing an alleged violation of the rules addressing used oil transport in Alabama. See Consent Order No. 26-XXX-CHW. The CO provides that LES…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Blytheville Scrap Steel Mill Enter into Consent Administrative Order
November 12, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Nucor Corporation (“Nucor”) entered into an October 24th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of an Air Permit. See Case #: CAO-25-0073. The CAO provides that Nucor…
PM2.5/U.S. EPA Initial Air Quality Designations: 23 Environmental Organizations Submit Joint Comments
November 11, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, and 20 other environmental organizations (collectively, “NRDC”) submitted November 5th comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) regarding: Initial Air Quality Designations for the 2024…
Five-Year Status Reviews/Endangered Species Act: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Initiation for 81 Southeastern Species (1 Related to Arkansas)
November 11, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Fish and Wildlife (“Service”) announced in the November 9th Federal Register that it has initiated status reviews for 81 animal and plant species under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). See 91 Fed. Reg. 70892. One of the species’ range includes the State of Arkansas. Pursuant to…