Between the Lines Blog
When Selling Annuities Becomes Investment Advice: A Guide for Insurance Providers
For insurance companies and agents, the distinction between selling annuities and providing investment advice can blur unexpectedly. When annuity sales involve discussions about a client's securities portfolio or recommendations to liquidate investments to fund purchases, agents may inadvertently…
ANRC Takes Next Step Toward Implementing Arkansas's New Water and Sewer Grant Program
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission voted unanimously on April 2, 2026, to recommend new finance rules that will govern how millions of dollars in water and sewer infrastructure funding are distributed, and the implications for utilities, municipalities, and water authorities across the state…
Final Rulemaking Package Submitted for California Intervenor and AHB Fairness and Accountability Regulations
April 21, 2026
by Jerry Zimmerman
On April 20, 2026, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara submitted the final rulemaking package for the Intervenor and Administrative Hearing Bureau (AHB) Fairness and Accountability regulations (REG-2025-00006) to the Office of Administrative Law for final review. These regulations…
Trademark Scams: How to Spot Them and Protect Yourself
Trademark scams are on the rise, leading to confusion amongst trademark owners. In fact, in August 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) took the extraordinary step of sanctioning a foreign filing firm and terminating over 52,000 trademark applications and registrations…
Understanding Patient Safety Organizations: A Practical Guide
If you work in the healthcare industry, you have likely heard about Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA). This article breaks down what these frameworks mean and how they can protect sensitive safety information from disclosure in…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) EPA Region 6 (Includes Arkansas) Enforcement Sweep: Energy Marketers of America Regulatory Alert
The Energy Marketers of America (“EMA”) issued a Regulatory Alert on April 30th stating that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Region 6 is initiating a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (“SPCC”) enforcement sweep. EPA Region 6 includes the states of: Arkansas…
Arkansas Environmental Federation Annual Air Seminar: May 7th - Little Rock
The Arkansas Environmental Federation (“AEF”) will be holding its Annual Air Seminar on May 7th. The Air Seminar will be held at the Wyndham River Front hotel in North Little Rock, Arkansas. AEF states that the Seminar brings together professionals responsible for: Air quality compliance. Air…
Livestock Grazing/Endangered Species Act: Center for Biological Diversity Notice of Intent to Sue Bureau of Land Management for Alleged Violations
The Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”) has sent a March 25th document to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) styled: Sixty-Day Notice of Intent to Sue Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedure Act for Legal…
Evaluation of Trends in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act State-Level Enforcement Data: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General Report
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issue an April 28th report titled: Evaluation of Trends in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act State-Level Enforcement Data (“Report”). See Report No. 26-E-0025. OIG states that the purpose of the…
Natural Gas Pipeline Projects/Streamlining: United States Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) Introduces Legislation Naming the Federal Regulatory Commission as Sole Lead Agency
United States Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) introduced on Apri 15th legislation addressing natural gas pipeline projects. The bill is denominated as: The Jurisdiction Oversight and Adjudication for Natural Gas Act (“Act”). The stated purpose of the Act is to promote interagency coordination for…