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
Gasoline Distribution Facilities/Standards of Performance for Bulk Gasoline Terminals: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposed Reconsideration of NESHAP
September 29, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the September 28th Federal Register a proposed rule/reconsideration of a final rule (collectively, “Proposal”) that is reconsidering various provisions of the May 8, 2024, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants…
Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund/2026 Guidelines for Reimbursement of Corrective Action Costs: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality Announces Updated Document
September 29, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) issued an updated document to implement the Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”) titled: ARKANSAS PETROLEUM STORAGE TANK TRUST FUND: 2026 GUIDELINES FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CORRECTIVE…
Wastewater Enforcement: Mississippi Commission of Environmental Quality and Aberdeen Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Enter Into Agreed Order
September 29, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) and Prestage Farms Mississippi Inc. (“PFM”) entered into an August 10th Agreed Order (“AO”) addressing alleged violations of a Multimedia General Pollution Control Permit (“Permit”). See Order NO. 7740 26. The AO provides that PFM owns…
2026 Triennial Review/Arkansas Water Quality Standards: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality Initiates Review
September 28, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) announced in a September 25th notice that it is initiating its 2026 Triennial Review of Arkansas’s Water Quality Standards (“WQS”): Pollution Control and Ecology Commission 8 CAR Part 21 (Rule 2). The…
Developing Water Reuse Regulations/A State-Level Guide: Water Reuse Association Issues Guide
September 28, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Water Reuse Association (“WRA”) issued a document titled: Developing Water Reuse Regulations: A State-Level Guide (“Guide”). Identified as co-authors of the Guide are: Brown and Caldwell. Hazen. Funding partners include: WateReuse. Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. American…