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
Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids: National Waste & Recycling Association Comments Addressing U.S. EPA Draft Guidance
The National Waste & Recycling Association (“NWRA”) submitted October 5th comments on a document the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published on June 29th titled: Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in…
Water Treatment Facility/Surface Water Flow: Adjacent Property Owners Allege Damages Associated with Arkansas Municipal Facility
Paul Roberts and Penny Buchanan (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint on October 13th against the City of Hot Springs, Arkansas alleging damages caused by a Hot Springs water treatment facility (“WTF”). See NO.: 6:26-cv-06135-JTS. The complaint alleges that the damages are associated with…
Karst Learning & Field Day: October 17 - Huntsville, Arkansas
The Beaver Watershed Alliance and Nature Conservancy are holding an event titled Karst Learning & Field Day. The event will be held on October 17th from 10 a.m. to noon in Huntsville, Arkansas. Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams…
Streamlined, Clear, Expeditious Permitting/Governor Executive Order: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Submitted Plan
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (“E&E”) previously submitted its Improvement Plan as required by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders’ Executive Order 26-04 (“EO”). The Governor had signed on February 16th the EO styled: EXECUTIVE ORDER TO MAKE ARKANSAS THE BEST STATE IN AMERICA TO DO…
St. Charles Parish Bulk Liquids Storge Facility/Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality: Refined Community Empowerment Files Petition for Judicial Review Challenging Air Permit Authorizing Expansion
Refined Community Empowerment (“RCE”) filed a September 28th Petition for Judicial Review (“Petition”) in the 19th Judicial District Court challenging the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (“LDEQ”) decision granting a Part 70 Operating Title V Air Permit Renewal and Modification…