Between the Lines Blog
Federal Government Poised to Amend Definition of Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance … (Again)
On August 7, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (collectively “the Departments”) released a statement that they intend to undertake notice-and-comment rulemaking to reconsider the 2024 amendments to the federal regulatory definition of short-term…
The Future of FOIA is Here: New Requirements under Acts 505 and 922 of 2025
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has long been a cornerstone of transparency, ensuring that the public has access to government records and meetings. Acts 505 and 922 of 2025, which took effect on August 5, 2025, significantly amend FOIA to modernize public meeting rules, clarify…
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 Meeting Summary
The Mitchell Williams Insurance Regulatory team of lawyers recently attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 National Meeting which was held in Minneapolis, MN. We have prepared a summary of the open sessions conducted over the course of the meeting…
What Agricultural Landowners Need to Know Now About Leases to Minimize Future Risk
June 20, 2025
by John P. Talbot
According to the USDA – Economic Research Service, there are approximately 911 million acres of farmland in the lower 48 states, with roughly 60% of this farmland owner-operated and 40% of it leased. For tillable cropland acres specifically, the percentage of rented ground is higher, approximately…
2025 Arkansas Insurance Legislation Summary: Life
This is the fourth and final article in a series of summaries of Insurance legislation from the 95th Arkansas General Assembly. The 95th Arkansas General Assembly convened on January 13, 2025, and entered into an extended recess on April 16, 2025. The resolution authorizing the extended recess…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Endangered Species Act: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Marine Fisheries Service Issue Four Proposed Rules
November 24, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) and National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) issued on November 19th four proposed Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) rules. To a great extent, the four proposed rules would reinstate regulations promulgated during the first Trump Administration…
Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators/Medical Evaluation Requirements: American Road & Transportation Builders Association Comments on Proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration Proposed Rulemaking
November 24, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association and several other organizations submitted November 1st comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) addressing the following proposed rule: Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Baxter County Medical Device Manufacturing Facility Enter Into Consent Administrative Order
November 24, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and Vantive US Healthcare LLC (“VH”) entered into a November 20th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of an Air Permit. See LIS 25-077. The CAO provides that VH operates a…
Maintaining a Numeric Minimum Disinfectant Residual in the Distribution System: American Water Works Association Publishes Framework for Strategy Selection and Evaluation
November 21, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The American Water Works Association (“AWWA”) published a document titled: Maintaining a Numeric Minimum Disinfectant Residual in the Distribution System - A Framework for Strategy Selection and Evaluation (“Framework”). The Framework is stated to have been prepared by ARCADIS with support from…
Data Centers/Northwestern Energy: Environmental/Community Groups File Montana Public Service Commission Complaint Challenging Electric Supply Service
November 21, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Montana Public Interest Research Group and 8 other organizations filed a November 17th Complaint before the Public Service Commission of the State of Montana (“Commission”) against NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (“NW”) alleging that its practices and acts with respect to the…