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
Major Water Users/Data Centers: Texas Governor's Directive to the Texas Water Development Board Addressing Water Use Reporting Requirements
Texas Governor Greg Abbott transmitted a September 14th letter to the Chairwoman and Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (“TWDB”) to: … use its statutory authority to compel major water users to comply with water use reporting requirements and to impose legal consequences…
Transportation/Hazardous Materials: U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Interpretive Letter Addressing Cargo Tanks
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in a September 24th interpretive letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to cargo tanks and the performance requirements to prevent accumulation of material impairing…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Pulaski County Locomotive Machinery/Equipment Repair Facility Enter into Consent Administrative Order
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Union Pacific Railroad Company (“UP”) entered into a August 14th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing an alleged violation of an Air Permit. See Case # CAO-26-0031. The CAO provides that UP…
Data Centers/Gas-Fired Power Plant: Sierra Club/Public Citizen File Citizen Suit Action Addressing San Antonio, Texas Project
Sierra Club and Public Citizen (“Sierra Club”) filed a September 21st Clean Air Act citizen suit Complaint against the following corporations: VANTAGE DATA CENTERS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC VANTAGE DATA CENTERS TX11, LLC VANTAGE DATA CENTERS TX21, LLC VOLTAGRID LLC (Collectively, “VDC”). The…
Hazardous Waste Enforcement: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Oakdale Food Flavoring Manufacturing Facility Enter into Settlement Agreement
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) and Byrne Callahan Legacies, LLC f/k/a Natural Advantage, LLC (“NA”) entered into an August 31st Settlement Agreement (“SA”) addressing alleged violations of the Louisiana hazardous waste regulations. See Settlement Tracking No…