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
Information Quality Act/PFAS: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Request for EPA Correction
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) submitted an October 29th letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) styled: Demand for Correction under the Information Quality Act: 1) EPA Questions and Answers About TSCA; and 2) EPA Questions and Answers about…
Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals: U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee Hearing
The Oversight Committee of the United States Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works held a hearing on October 23rd titled: Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals (“Hearing”). The Hearing included the following witnesses: Peter Huntsman, President and CEO, Huntsman…
National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials: Mid-Year Workshop/Meeting - Rogers, Arkansas Nov. 3-6 (Reminder)
The National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials (“Association”) is holding its Mid-Year Workshop and Meeting (“Meeting”) in Rogers, Arkansas. The Meeting will be held from November 3-6. The Association describes itself as including: …members and staff of State Emergency Response…
Fair Enforcement Act: U.S. Senator Mike Lee (Utah) Introduces Legislation Addressing Clean Air Act Citizen Suits
United States Senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced legislation titled: The Fair Air Enforcement Act. Senator Lee describes the legislation as stopping: …weaponization of the judicial system by outlawing citizen suits under the Clean Air Act, which has been used by political groups to hurt…
2025 Annual Mississippi County Watershed Forum: Event Held October 16th at Arkansas Northeastern College (Mississippi County)
Big River Steel (“BRS”) a U.S. Steel company, proudly hosted the 2025 Annual Mississippi County Watershed Forum (“Forum”) on October 16th at the Larwrence Family Campus – Arkansas Northeastern College in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The Forum continues a tradition that began in 2023 that is…