Between the Lines Blog
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…
State Air Trends & Successes: Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies Issues 2025 Report
May 28, 2025
The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies ("AAPCA") issued the 2025 edition of its annual report titled: State Air Trends & Successes ("Report"). AAPCA describes itself as a: ...National Small Land, non-profit consensus-driven organization focused on assisting state and local air…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Wood Treaters/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Interpretive Letter Response to Treated Wood Council Query
United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery Deputy Director Andrew Baca transmitted an October 8th Interpretive Letter addressing issues involving wood treatment. Mr. Baca was responding to a June 25th request from Jeffrey T. Miller of the…
Stormwater Best Management Practices: City of North Little Rock, Arkansas Engineering Department Releases Best Management Practices Manual
The City of North Little Rock, Arkansas Engineering Department has released a document titled: STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (“Manual”). The Manual is described as a: …practical guide to protecting North Little Rock’s water ways. The Manual is stated to provide: …clear, actionable…
Pretreatment Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality and Ripley Sorbent Product Manufacturer Enter into Agreed Order
The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) and Oil Dri Production Company (“ODPC”) entered into an October 21st Agreed Order (“AO”) addressing alleged violations of a Clean Water Act Pretreatment Permit. See Order No. 7576 25. The AO provides that ODPC holds a State Operating…
National Environmental Policy Act/Wildfire Area Tree Removal: Federal Appellate Court Addresses Whether U.S. Forest Service Considered Reasonable Range of Alternatives
The United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (“Ninth Circuit”) addressed in an October 17th Memorandum an issue arising under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). See American Whitewater, et al., v. U.S. Forest Service, 2025 WL 2945591. The issue considered was whether the United…
Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions: Federal Banking Agencies Announce Withdrawal
The federal banking agencies announced the withdrawal of interagency “Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions” (“Principles”). The federal banking agencies include: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Treasury. Board of Governors of the…