Between the Lines Blog
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…
NAIC Discloses Unauthorized Access to PeopleSoft Systems
Cybersecurity Incident at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Overview On June 17, 2026, the NAIC publicly disclosed that it identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems on or about June 11, 2026. The NAIC activated its incident response procedures and is working…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Stormwater Enforcement/Citizen Suit Action: Federal Court Addresses Pennsylvania Metal Fabrication Facility's Motion to Dismiss
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (“Court”) addressed in an August 24th Memorandum Opinion (“Opinion”) issues arising out of a Clean Water Act citizen suit action involving stormwater discharges. See Friends of the Delaware River LLC v. Martelli’s Metal…
Arkansas Division of Emergency Management: John Hogue Appointed State Fire Marshal
The Arkansas Department of Public Safety announced in an August 24th news release that the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management has appointed Mr. John Hogue as the next State Fire Marshal. Mr. Hogue succeeds Dennis Free who retired on July 1st. Besides his responsibility for enforcing…
Air/Solid Waste Enforcement: Oregon Department of Justice Contempt Ruling Addressing Metal Recycler
The Oregon Department of Justice (“ODOJ”) announced in an August 13th news release that it obtained a contempt ruling against NW Metals, Inc. (“NWM”) and the company’s president for allegedly failing to comply with a stipulated permanent injunction (“Injunction”) addressing compliance with Oregon…
Will Oklahoma Ever Settle Its Chickensh*t Lawsuit?: Allan Gates (Mitchell Williams) American College of Environmental Lawyers Post
My Law Firm colleague, Allan Gates, posted an Article on the American College of Environmental Lawyers (“ACOEL”) on August 20th titled: Will Oklahoma Ever Settle Its Chickensh*t Lawsuit? Allan is a former president of ACOEL. The Article provides both the history and an update on the lawsuit…
New Source Review/Minor Sources: Joint Comments of Environmental and Public Health Groups addressing U.S. EPA Proposed Rule to Streamline State and Local Permitting Process
13 environmental and public health organizations submitted August 21st comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) addressing the proposed rule that the federal agency describes as streamlining: … the New Source Review (“NSR”) permitting process for minor sources by…