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
Securing America's Energy Infrastructure/Addressing Cyber and Physical Threats to the Grid: U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
The Subcommittee on Energy of the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee held a December 2nd hearing titled: Securing America’s Energy Infrastructure: Addressing Cyber and Physical Threats to the Grid (“Hearing”). The focus of the Hearing is described as reviewing: …
Draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Data Centers: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Announces Issuance
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (“OEPA”) has public noticed a document titled: Draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Data Center Facilities to State Waters (“Draft General Permit”). See Public Notice No. 215991. The document is a draft Clean Water Act General National Pollutant…
War Eagle Landowners/Conservation Easement Workshop: Northwest Arkansas Land Trust
The Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (“NALT”) is holding a Conservation Easement Workshop for War Eagle Landowners. The Workshop will be held at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Visitor Center. The date of the Workshop is December 13th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. A catered breakfast is included. NALT…
City of Decatur NPDES Permit: City of Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority Filing Before the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Challenging Issuance
The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (“Tulsa”) filed on November 26th a Request for Administrative Hearing (“Request”) before the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission objecting to a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System…
Regional Haze/Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Environmental Organizations' Comments on EPA Solicitation of Potential Regulatory Changes to Implementation/Structure
The Environmental Defense Fund and eleven other environmental organizations filed December 1st Comments addressing an October 2nd Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPR”) issued by EPA styled: Visibility Protection: Regional Haze State Plan Requirements Rule Revision, Advanced Notice of…