Between the Lines Blog
Letting Growth Fund Growth: Why Issue 3 Matters for Arkansas
October 28, 2026
by Robbi Riggs Watson
In 2024, I joined a group of Arkansas attorneys, economic development professionals, and community leaders who had one goal in mind: creating an economic development proposal that would help Arkansas communities compete for jobs, investment, and growth. Over the next year, I and other Mitchell…
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…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment/Arkansas Department of Health Execute Memorandum of Agreement: Single Lead Agency/Single Point of Contact Designated for Each Category of Domestic Wastewater System
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (“E&E”) and the Arkansas Department of Health (“ADH”) announced that they have executed a Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) that: … streamlines the review, permitting, and regulation of domestic wastewater systems and their collection systems across…
Ethanol as a Marine Fuel/Exploring its Usability: Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Report
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (“Mærsk”) issued an October 2026 report titled: Ethanol as a marine fuel: exploring its usability (“Report”). The primary focus of the Report is an examination of ethanol’s technical viability as a marine fuel. The Report initially notes…
Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026: United States Senator Curtis (Utah) Introduces Legislation Establishing National Standards for Recycled Content/Environmental Marketing Claims
United States Senator John Curtis (Utah) introduced on October 6th the Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026 (“Act”). See S.5674. The Act is described as establishing clear, consistent national standards for recycled content and related environmental marketing claims. The legislation is…
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants/Plywood and Composite Wood Products Rule: Sierra Club Files D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Challenge
Sierra Club filed on October 23rd a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see Case No. 26-1230 ) challenging the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) final rule entitled: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and…
Perspectives on How Louisiana Can Lead in a New Energy Era: Powering Louisiana Forum White Paper
The Powering Louisiana Forum (“PLF”) has distributed a White Paper titled: Perspectives on How Louisiana Can Lead in a New Energy Era (“White Paper”). PLF is described as a conference which: … brought together industry, government, and public-sector stakeholders to chart a shared strategy for…