Between the Lines Blog
When Selling Annuities Becomes Investment Advice: A Guide for Insurance Providers
For insurance companies and agents, the distinction between selling annuities and providing investment advice can blur unexpectedly. When annuity sales involve discussions about a client's securities portfolio or recommendations to liquidate investments to fund purchases, agents may inadvertently…
ANRC Takes Next Step Toward Implementing Arkansas's New Water and Sewer Grant Program
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission voted unanimously on April 2, 2026, to recommend new finance rules that will govern how millions of dollars in water and sewer infrastructure funding are distributed, and the implications for utilities, municipalities, and water authorities across the state…
Final Rulemaking Package Submitted for California Intervenor and AHB Fairness and Accountability Regulations
April 21, 2026
by Jerry Zimmerman
On April 20, 2026, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara submitted the final rulemaking package for the Intervenor and Administrative Hearing Bureau (AHB) Fairness and Accountability regulations (REG-2025-00006) to the Office of Administrative Law for final review. These regulations…
Trademark Scams: How to Spot Them and Protect Yourself
Trademark scams are on the rise, leading to confusion amongst trademark owners. In fact, in August 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) took the extraordinary step of sanctioning a foreign filing firm and terminating over 52,000 trademark applications and registrations…
Understanding Patient Safety Organizations: A Practical Guide
If you work in the healthcare industry, you have likely heard about Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA). This article breaks down what these frameworks mean and how they can protect sensitive safety information from disclosure in…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Protecting Clean Water at the State Level after Sackett: Center for Water Security and Cooperation/Waterkeeper Alliance Report (Focus on Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee)
The Center for Water Security and Cooperation and Waterkeeper Alliance have issued a May 2026 report titled: Protecting Clean Water at the State Level After Sackett: How States Can Step Up to Keep Rivers, Streams, Lakes, and Wetlands Clean When Federal Protections Fall Short (“Report”). The…
New Source Review/Clean Air Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposed Rule Addressing "Begin Actual Construction"
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published in the May 13th Federal Register proposed revisions to the Clean Air Act New Source Review (“NSR”) air permitting regulations. See 91 Fed. Reg. 26958. The proposed rule distinguishes between construction of a stationary source and…
Fund Eligibility/Storage Tank Enforcement: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Proposed Order/Assessment Addressing Davidson County Bus Garage
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (“TDEC”) issued a March 19th Proposed Order and Assessment (“Order”) to Metro Transit Authority (“MTA”) addressing alleged violations of the Tennessee Underground Storage Tank (“UST”) regulations. See Case No. FDA26-0033. The Order states…
Hazardous Waste Manifest Regulations/RCRA: ASTSWMO Comments on U.S. EPA Proposal to Sunset Paper Manifests
The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (“ASTSWMO”) submitted May 4th comments on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed rule to amend the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) regulation, addressing the manifest requirements…
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Meeting: May 20th
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will meet on May 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR Agenda items include: Review and approve the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes of April 2, 2026 and May 12…