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
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…
Arkansas Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks: September 30th Meeting
September 25, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
As noted in a previous blog post, Arkansas operates a petroleum storage tank trust fund that provides reimbursement for eligible storage tanks that suffer corrective action requirements and third-party damage claims due to a release of petroleum. The Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks…
Hazardous Waste Management/A Hidden Input to U.S. Economic Growth: Charles River Associates September 2026 Report
September 24, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Charles River Associates (“CRA”) issued a September 2026 report titled: Hazardous waste management: A hidden input to US economic growth (“Report”). The Report’s author is Alan Jaske, PhD. CRA indicates that it was retained by Veolia to analyze the role of hazardous waste management as an input…
State of Arkansas Waters: Dr. Felicia Osburn (Ecologist Supervisor - ADEQ Office of Water Quality) Arkansas Rural Water Association Technical Conference Presentation
September 24, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Dr. Felicia Osburn, Ph.D., undertook a presentation at the Arkansas Rural Water Association Technical Conference titled: STATE OF ARKANSAS WATERS (“Presentation”). Dr. Osburn serves as the Ecologist Supervisor in the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental…