Between the Lines Blog
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…
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…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Waters of the United States/Clean Water Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Issues Supplemental Proposed Rule
September 8, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of the Army (collectively, “EPA”) issued a September 4th pre-public notice of a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Supplemental Proposed Rule”) which they describe as collecting: … input on additional…
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Meeting: September 9th
September 8, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will meet on September 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Arkansas Rural Water Association, 240 Dee Dee Lane, Lonoke, AR. Agenda items include: Regular Business Consider meeting minutes of July 15, 2026 Consider amended minutes of August 19, 2026 Director’s…
Wastewater Enforcement: Missouri Department of Natural Resources Abatement Order on Consent Addressing Municipality of Clever
September 8, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“MDNR”) issued a July 9th Abatement Order on Consent (“Order”) to the City of Clever, Missouri addressing alleged violations of the Missouri Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) Permit. See Order No. 2026-WPCB-1914…
Reducing Risk from PFOA AND PFOS in Biosolids: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Comments on U.S. EPA Draft Guidance
September 4, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) submitted August 26th comments on a document the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published on June 29th titled: Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid…
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans/NPDES Permits: Illinois House Bill 4418 Requires Application to Plastic Pellets or Other Preproduction Plastic Materials Manufacturing Facilities
September 4, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Illinois Governor signed on August 7th House Bill 4418 (“HB4418”) which amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act in regard to Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit requirements addressing stormwater. The Bill requires that the Illinois…