Between the Lines Blog
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…
State Air Trends & Successes: Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies Issues 2025 Report
May 28, 2025
The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies ("AAPCA") issued the 2025 edition of its annual report titled: State Air Trends & Successes ("Report"). AAPCA describes itself as a: ...National Small Land, non-profit consensus-driven organization focused on assisting state and local air…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
How the Clean Air Act Impacts Building Necessary Infrastructure/Onshoring American Innovation: Subcommittee on Environment/U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
September 12, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Subcommittee on Environment of the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on June 11, titled: Short-Circuiting Progress: How the Clean Air Act Impacts Building Necessary Infrastructure and Onshoring American Innovation (“Hearing”). The Energy and…
Arkansas Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks: Governor Sanders Announces Appointments
September 12, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The publication Talk Business published an article stating that Arkansas Governor Sanders announced the following appointments to the Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks (“Committee”): John Mark Goings, Little Rock, to the Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks. Term to expire…
Asbestos Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Atlanta Construction Company Enter into Consent Agreement
September 12, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Merit Construction Company (“MCC”) entered into an August 28th Consent Agreement (“CA”) addressing alleged violations of the Clean Air Act asbestos regulations. See Docket No. CAA-04-2025-0004(b). The CA addresses MCC’s alleged…
Regional Haze/Arkansas: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Public Notices Approval of State Implementation Plan Revisions
September 11, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the September 5th Federal Register a proposed rule approving an Arkansas State Implementation Plan (“SIP”) revision. See 90 Fed. Reg. 43030. The revision submitted by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division…
Alliance to Enhance Worker Safety in Waste/Recycling Industry: OSHA/SWANA/NWRA Renew Agreement
September 11, 2025
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced on August 26th that it renewed its alliance with the National Waste & Recycling Association (“NWRA”) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (“SWANA”) with the shared goal of improving…