New Federal Legislation Eases Access to Financing for Broadband Projects with Qualified Private Activity Bonds
Congress has passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which President Biden signed on November 15, 2021. The Act includes approximately $65 billion in funding opportunities for the deployment of broadband services in rural areas. In addition to the creation of a broadband grant…
Act 1052: An Update to Landlord-Tenant Law in Arkansas
The Arkansas Generally Assembly recently passed legislation affecting rights and duties of landlords and tenants in Arkansas. While Arkansas has been historically pro-landlord—and predominantly remains so—Act 1052 at least swings the pendulum. Most notably, Act 1052 sets forth implied habitability…
Renewal of Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
On July 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists extending the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for another ninety (90) days effective July 20, 2021. The PHE has been in place since January…
2021 Arkansas Insurance Legislation Summary: Act 925 Prohibits Life Insurance/Annuity Beneficiary Change through Will
June 29, 2021
by Derrick W. Smith
This is the sixth and final article in a series of summaries of Insurance legislation from the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly. In a surprising move, the Arkansas General Assembly overrode long-standing Arkansas common law that permits an insured to change a beneficiary of an insurance policy via…
2021 Arkansas Insurance Legislation Summary: Arkansas Insurance Business Transfer Act
June 28, 2021
by Derrick W. Smith
This is the fifth article in a series of summaries of Insurance legislation from the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly. Arkansas has joined a number of states in enacting legislation meant to allow an insurer to transfer blocks of business to another insurer without the need for individual…