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
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…
Wastewater Enforcement: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Lafayette Parish Concrete Mixing Facility Enter into Settlement Agreement
September 28, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) and Barry Concrete, Inc. (“BCI”) entered into a March 31st Settlement Agreement (“SA”) addressing alleged violations of Louisiana rules related to wastewater discharges. See Enforcement Tracking No. WE-CN-24-00064. The SA provides that BCI…
Notice of Alleged Violations/Endangered Species Act: Center for Biological Diversity Letter Challenging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Failure to List Venus Flytrap
September 25, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”) sent a September 10th letter to the United States Fish and Wildlife (“Service”) addressing an Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) listing determination involving the Venus flytrap. CBD alleges that the Service’s determination that the Venus flytrap does not…
Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act: U.S. House of Representatives Passes BRACE Act (H.R. 9615)
September 25, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States House of Representatives on September 15th passed the Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy (“BRACE Act”). Original sponsor Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks describes the purpose of the BRACE Act as to modernize outdated federal regulations and strengthen…