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
Waters of the United States/Clean Water Act: National Agricultural Aviation Association Comments on U.S. EPA Supplemental Proposed Rule
The National Agricultural Aviation Association (“NAAA”) submitted October 9th comments addressing the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s: Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States (“Supplemental Proposed Rule”). See Docket No…
Arkansas Ambient Air Monitoring Network: Annual Network Plan for 2026-2027
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) recently issued a document titled: ARKANSAS AMBIENT AIR MONITORING NETWORK – Annual Network Plan for 2026-2027 (“Plan”). The Plan was prepared by DEQ’s Office of Air Quality. The Plan has previously…
Oil Spill Enforcement: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Pipeline Operator Enter into Order by Consent
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“VDEQ”) and Products (SE) Pipe Line Corporation (“PPL”) entered into a August 26th Order by Consent (“Order”) addressing an alleged violation of Va. Code § 62.1-44.34:18.A. See PC No. 2026-3094. PPL is stated to operate a pipeline near Herndon…
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…