Between the Lines Blog
Federal Government Poised to Amend Definition of Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance … (Again)
On August 7, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (collectively “the Departments”) released a statement that they intend to undertake notice-and-comment rulemaking to reconsider the 2024 amendments to the federal regulatory definition of short-term…
The Future of FOIA is Here: New Requirements under Acts 505 and 922 of 2025
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has long been a cornerstone of transparency, ensuring that the public has access to government records and meetings. Acts 505 and 922 of 2025, which took effect on August 5, 2025, significantly amend FOIA to modernize public meeting rules, clarify…
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 Meeting Summary
The Mitchell Williams Insurance Regulatory team of lawyers recently attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Summer 2025 National Meeting which was held in Minneapolis, MN. We have prepared a summary of the open sessions conducted over the course of the meeting…
What Agricultural Landowners Need to Know Now About Leases to Minimize Future Risk
June 20, 2025
by John P. Talbot
According to the USDA – Economic Research Service, there are approximately 911 million acres of farmland in the lower 48 states, with roughly 60% of this farmland owner-operated and 40% of it leased. For tillable cropland acres specifically, the percentage of rented ground is higher, approximately…
2025 Arkansas Insurance Legislation Summary: Life
This is the fourth and final article in a series of summaries of Insurance legislation from the 95th Arkansas General Assembly. The 95th Arkansas General Assembly convened on January 13, 2025, and entered into an extended recess on April 16, 2025. The resolution authorizing the extended recess…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Examining the Future of PFAS Cleanup and Disposal Policy: U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing
November 20, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on November 19th titled: Examining the Future of PFAS Cleanup and Disposal Policy (“Hearing”). Arkansas Senator Boozman serves in the Majority on the Environment and Public Works Committee. The purpose of the Hearing…
Stormwater Runoff/Residential Development: Arkansas Supreme Court Addresses Jurisdictional Issue
November 20, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Supreme Court (“SCT”) addressed in a November 13th Opinion a jurisdictional dispute involving a residential development stormwater runoff issue. See Taylor v. Ferguson, et al., 2025 Ark. 180. The issue addressed was whether the Pulaski County Court had exclusive jurisdiction upon…
Wastewater Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Sioux County, Iowa Cattle Feeding Operation Enter into Consent Decree
November 20, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Department of Justice and Wynja Feedlot, Inc. (“WF”) entered into a November 17th Consent Decree (“CD”) addressing alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The Consent Decree was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. The Complaint provides…
Beyond the Wires/Lessons from Transmission Lines Built with Community Benefits: Environmental Defense Fund/Clean Air Act Task Force Report
November 19, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Environmental Defense Fund and Clean Air Act Task Force have published a November 2025 report titled: BEYOND THE WIRES: Lessons from Transmission Lines Built with Community Benefits (“Report”). The Report describes its purpose as to summarize lessons from a set of case studies that…
Arkansas Hazardous Waste Management Regulations: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Register Notice Approving Adoption of State Program Revisions
November 19, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the November 18th Federal Register a Notice finalizing approval of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) incorporation by reference of certain provisions as part of its…