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
Energy Permitting Reform: National Governors Association Bipartisan Working Group Announces Priorities
The National Governors Association (“NGA”) released a package of what is described as: … priorities to improve federal permitting and regulatory processes for critical energy infrastructure projects. An October 28th letter was submitted to the relevant Congressional committee leaders requesting…
Directing Oregon State Agencies to Promote Resilience of Communities and Natural and Working Lands and Waters: Oregon Governor Executive Order No. 25-26 Issued
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued an Executive Order titled: DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO TAKE URGENT ACTION TO PROMOTE THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS AND WATERS (“EO”). See Executive Order No. 25-26. In announcing the EO, the Governor indicated her intent is to: …
Arkansas Department of Agriculture: November 20th Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Committee Meeting Scheduled
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced the next Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Committee Meeting will be held on November 20th at 9:30 A.M. via Zoom only. The Meetings are usually held at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. The…
Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Arkansas Attorney General Rejects Clean and Healthy Natural Environment Amendment
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin transmitted a November 4th letter (Opinion No. 2025-110) to Jennifer Waymack Standerfer rejecting a popular name and ballot title for a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment titled: The Clean and Healthy Natural Environment Amendment. The November 4th…
New Source Review/Clean Air Act: Environmental Organizations Letter Challenging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Guidance Addressing "Begin Actual Construction"
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a September 2nd interpretive letter addressing the definition of “Begin Actual Construction” in the Clean Air Act New Source Review (“NSR”) regulations. The September 2nd letter revised EPA’s view of the phrase “Begin Actual…