Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

When the House reconvenes on Monday, members will likely be entering the last week of the 2023 Regular Session. Currently, the General Assembly is expected to adjourn on April 7.

 Before members adjourn, they will be addressing education funding, tax cuts, and amending the Revenue Stabilization Act which prioritizes spending for the next fiscal year. 

On Thursday, the House Education Committee advanced HB1688. This bill amends public school funding. It increases per-pupil funding from the current amount of $7,413 to $7,618 for the 2023-2024 school year. The bill would increase the amount to $7,771 for the 2024-2025 school year. This bill will now go to the full House for a vote. 

Also on Thursday, several legislators and the Governor announced the introduction of a proposed tax cut. SB549 would reduce the state’s top income tax rate from 4.9% to 4.7%. It would also reduce the corporate income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.1%. The reductions would be retroactive to January 1, 2023.SB549 will be before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on Monday. 

One of the last items of legislation before House members every session is the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA). The RSA outlines general revenue spending. Once a proposal for the budget is released, it will be posted at arkansashouse.org. 

Meanwhile, the House passed a number of bills during the 12th week of the session including the following: 

SB248-This bill creates the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program. The bill states that a student is eligible to receive an Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship if the student receives the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and demonstrates financial need as determined by FASFA. The Plus Scholarship would be awarded in $1,000 increments per student per academic year. 

HB1503-This bill creates the offense of operating a chop shop and makes the offense a Class C felony. 

HB1468-This bill prohibits requiring employees of public schools and state-supported institutions of higher education to use a person’s preferred pronoun, name, or title without parental consent. 

HB1610-This bill amends the law relating to public meetings under the Freedom of Information Act. It defines a public meeting as one-third or more of the members of a governing body of all municipalities, counties, townships, school districts, boards, bureaus, or commissions of the State of Arkansas. 

SB377-This bill creates a misdemeanor offense concerning initiative petitions if a person knowingly changes a signature on a petition, erases or destroys a signature, pays a person in exchange for not signing a petition, or misrepresents the purpose and effect of the petition. 

HB1617-This bill would require an autopsy in the case of a suspected drug overdose. 

HB1502-This bill creates the offense of sexual solicitation of a minor and classifies the offense as a Class B felony. 

The House will convene on Monday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. You can watch all committee meetings and House floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.

Rare ‘tornado emergency’ issued near Little Rock, Arkansas

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and digital journalist

A life-threatening situation was unfolding around Little Rock, Arkansas, with a rare tornado emergency being issued for the city and surrounding areas. “A large, extreme dangerous and potentially deadly tornado is on the ground,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Meteorologists at the NWS office in Little Rock took shelter during the emergency and temporarily transfered all operational duties to the office in Memphis, Tennessee, until the threat has ended. A tornado emergency is reserved for the most extreme situations when there is a significant risk of damage and a high likelihood of fatalities.

The first of many severe thunderstorm warnings was issued early Friday, and AccuWeather meteorologists say the threat of dangerous severe storms, including tornadoes, will last into early Saturday.

A large, fast-moving tornado roared through central Arkansas early Friday afternoon near the Little Rock area. Preliminary reports of damage to buildings and disruptions on highways have been reported in the wake of the twister. Power outages are also spiking in Pulaski County, the county in which Little Rock is located. Over 50,000 electric customers were without power, and rising, according to PowerOutage.us. A severe thunderstorm immediately proceeded the tornado-warned storm. Although the second storm did not spin up a tornado, it brought heavy rain, frequent lightning and gusty winds to areas that were hit by the tornado. There is no word on storm-related injuries.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/live-news/live-large-extremely-dangerous-tornado-tears-through-arkansas-amid-severe-weather-outbreak/1506174

The view of a tornado Friday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas, as seen from Colonel Glenn area of the city. (Tristan Acker)

NWS-Little Rock warns of a strong storm system in Arkansas on Friday, March 31

A strong storm system will be in the central United States on Friday.  Ahead of the system, a gusty south wind will bring warm temperatures and increasing moisture, and the potential of strong to severe thunderstorms. 

The greatest severe weather potential is where the most lift (surrounding a storm system to the north) overlaps the most unstable air (from the southwest). This includes northern Arkansas.  Where severe storms develop, the main concerns will be damaging winds and hail, and there may be isolated tornadoes.

Quarter to three quarter inch precipitation totals are in the forecast, with up to an inch in the north. This will not be enough to make existing high water issues (i.e. elevated rivers/saturated soil) worse.

Over 75 million people in central US at risk of severe weather outbreak - Accuweather

At least 15 states will be at risk of an outbreak of violent thunderstorms that will unleash everything from damaging winds to tornadoes on Friday, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The area highlighted by forecasters is a massive swath of the country that extends from Texas to Alabama in the South to areas farther north such as Wisconsin and Michigan.

The AccuWeather forecast team raised Friday’s risk of severe weather from moderate to a high level prior to the middle of the week, a sign of growing concern for the potential damage the storms could cause.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/over-75-million-people-in-central-us-at-risk-of-severe-weather-outbreak/1504845

UA Cossatot announces 2023 Outstanding Faculty and Staff

ACC Faculty 2023

Bruce Franklin grew up in south-central Oklahoma and received his MA degree (History and Education) from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1994 and earned eighteen graduate hours in Sociology from Texas A&M University in Commerce, TX, in 2018. He has been with UAC since 1999, teaching History and Sociology courses. Bruce has been married to his wife for 41 years, and they have a son, 37, a daughter 34, and a granddaughter, 10. Bruce enjoys watching pro football and baseball and gardening. Bruce is a fan of old westerns, good sci-fi movies, rock music, Mexican food, and pizza!

ACC Staff 2023

Pat Earnest began her UA Cossatot career in January 1996.  Pat received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from East Texas State University in Texarkana. She also holds an Adult Education Certification from UALR.

Pat has worn many hats through the years, usually, more than one at a time, as do all UAC employees. However, she is winding down, working part-time as the Perkins Grant Coordinator, and will finally retire full-time in September. She plans to have an exciting retirement, clean house, and travel.

Tyson Foods faces scrutiny over plant closures

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Tyson Foods may have violated the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) in the effort to close large poultry processing operations in Van Buren and Glen Allen, Va., according to Peter Carstensen, law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.

Springdale-based Tyson gave workers at the two plants – almost 1,000 in Van Buren and just under 700 jobs in Virginia – the required 60 days notice that the plants would close on May 12. However, the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) requires growers who supply chicken processing plants be given at least 90 days notice before ending a contract.

Carstensen said violation of the PSA and lack of 90-day notice for growers is likely to draw antitrust scrutiny, Carstensen said in a report first published by Reuters. If Tyson is found in violation of the PSA the company could face fines up to $29,270 per contract, he added.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/tyson-foods-faces-scrutiny-over-plant-closures/

Constitutional amendments get first House hearing

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

After 33 resolutions were filed to refer various legislative initiatives to voters for the 2024 ballot, 13 of those measures received a hearing on Monday (March 27) during a meeting of the House Committee on State Agencies and Government Affairs.

The legislature is allowed to refer up to three constitutional amendment proposals to voters during each regular session. During the 2022 mid-terms, lawmakers referred three amendments to voters with all three failing to pass.

Prior to the hearing for today, Rep. Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro, and chairman of the committee said members wouldn’t cast votes, instead they will each fill out a form and list which three resolutions are their first, second and third choice. Tosh said out of the three amendments the legislature gets to refer to voters, the House will decide two of them with the Senate deciding the other.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/constitutional-amendments-get-first-house-hearing/

Researchers in Arkansas searching for fertilizer alternatives

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Fertilizer costs have exploded in the last two years due to inflation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors. Farmers across the country and in Arkansas may have to find alternatives to traditional fertilizers to minimize input costs.

One substance that could be of use is struvite.

Struvite, the same substance that makes up kidney stones and irritates sewage plant operators, could be an effective alternative to using a limited supply of mined phosphate for crop fertilizer.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/researchers-in-arkansas-searching-for-fertilizer-alternatives/

Social media photo ID bill passes Arkansas committee

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill pushed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to regulate children on social media passed an Arkansas legislative committee Tuesday.

The Social Media Safety Act would require Arkansans to show a photo ID before setting up a new account. If the bill becomes law, minors would also need express consent from their parents to set up a social media account.

Republican Sen. Tyler Dees explained it like this. “The process would be a third-party verifier that the social media site would contract with. They would verify the age and then they would dump that data. At that point, they would be able to give consent for a new profile to be created.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-29/social-media-photo-id-bill-passes-arkansas-committee

Jacob Kauffman/KUAR

A bill to regulate when children can set up social media accounts made it out of a Senate committee Tuesday.

Arkansas House committee changes controversial public bathroom bill

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved an amended version of a bill that initially would have criminalized entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match an adult’s gender assigned at birth if children are present.

Senate Bill 270 now limits potential misdemeanor charges and prosecutions to adults present “for the purpose of arousing or gratifying a sexual desire of himself or herself or any other person.”

The amendment and the bill both passed on unanimous voice votes after five cumulative hours of frequently emotional testimony from 40 witnesses against the bill. Almost half identified themselves as transgender, including three minors, and several more said they are the parents, spouses or loved ones of transgender Arkansans.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-29/arkansas-house-committee-changes-controversial-public-bathroom-bill

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Aaron Jennen (right), a father of a transgender teenager from Fayetteville, speaks against Senate Bill 270 before the House Judiciary Committee on March 28, 2023. Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn, left) is the bill’s sponsor.

Student Research Day Continues to Grow with Inclusion of Northwest Campus

UAMS students, researchers and staff recently presented their research projects at Student Research Day. Image by Evan Lewis

By Andrew Vogler

Graduate and professional students, postdoctoral researchers, medical staff and fellows presented their research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Student Research Day, a university-wide event hosted by the Division of Research and Innovation, Academic Affairs, the Graduate School, the Northwest Regional Campus and Academic Senate.

Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health, was present to view projects at Student Research Day.Andrew Vogler

This year’s event was the first in which the Northwest Regional Campus facilitated participation for its students. Participants at the Fayetteville campus and those unable to attend the event in person were able to view the event’s activities remotely.

“Student Research Day has always been one of my favorite events over the years — it not only provides a showcase for our students to let everyone see the work that they have been pursuing but also highlights the remarkable faculty who mentor them,” said Robert E. McGehee Jr., Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School and distinguished professor in the Department of Pediatrics. “The breadth of the projects is also amazing, literally from the frontlines of community-based research projects to the most minute changes in genetic signaling.”

https://news.uams.edu/2023/03/27/student-research-day-continues-to-grow-with-inclusion-of-northwest-campus/

April 5 webinar to focus on National Ag Law Center’s partner and outreach expansion efforts

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An April 5 webinar will be all about the future for a one-of-a-kind institution that has served public, private, legal and other agricultural and food industry professionals for nearly 40 years.

Congress established the National Agricultural Law Center in 1987 to serve as a nonpartisan, objective resource for the nation’s agricultural community. Today, it is the only institution of its kind in the United States with partners throughout the country, serving stakeholders at all levels of the agriculture and food supply chain.

NALC Director Harrison Pittman will discuss the future of the NALC in a webinar on Wednesday, April 5. The webinar, “Expanding Partners and Outreach: Strategic Update on the Future of the National Agricultural Law Center,” will begin at 11 a.m. CDT. Registration is free of charge online.

Harrison Pittman will talk about the future of the National Agricultural Law Center in an April 5, 2023, webinar. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo).

“The NALC has grown considerably in recent years, with a key strategic goal of expanding public and private sector partnerships and outreach throughout the United States,” Pittman said.

Pittman will discuss the NALC’s recent expansion efforts including the inaugural Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, establishment of regional advisory boards such as the newly formed Western Ag Industry Advisory Board, establishment of agricultural law scholarships and student-focused efforts such as the NALC Bridges Initiative.

“The purpose of this webinar is to provide a strategic update on the NALC and invite state agriculture departments, commodity and trade organizations, Cooperative Extension Service professionals, student organizations, law firms, law schools and other interested individuals and entities to collaborate and partner with us,” Pittman said. “As the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, it is a tremendous priority for the NALC to continue expanding its partners and outreach.”

The webinar is an opportunity for longstanding supporters of the NALC’s mission to not only hear about recent developments and initiatives, but also help those not as familiar with the NALC learn about its objectives and growth.

“There is much to be excited about with the future of the NALC,” Pittman said. “We are in a time of exponential growth and look forward to sharing this update on what’s in store for the future.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

A risk of severe weather for Arkansas on Friday

A strong storm system will be in the central United States on Friday. Ahead of the system, a strong south wind will bring warm temperatures and increasing moisture, and the potential of strong to severe thunderstorms. 

There is some question as to how much warmth/moisture (instability) will be in place as thunderstorms develop. Also, the system/associated energy will be well north of the state, and this may limit the amount of severe weather that occurs. The situation will be monitored closely. 

Quarter to three quarter inch precipitation totals are in the forecast. This will not be enough to make existing high water issues (elevated rivers/saturated soil) worse.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders signed bills

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Governor signed into law: 

SB254, an act to eliminate write-in candidates in elections; to amend election procedures; and to amend the law concerning election.

SB280, to amend the law concerning the creation and duties of the Arkansas ethics commission; and to amend portions of initiated act 1 of 1990 and initiated act 1 of 1996. 

SB293, to amend the law concerning the correction of errors on ballots; to amend the law concerning election procedures; and to create a procedure for candidate review of ballots.
 

SB307, to create a monument to the unborn; to create a monument on state capitol grounds; and to amend the law concerning the duties of the secretary of state.
 

SB343, to repeal the law concerning a written report on costs savings by cabinet-level departments.
 

HB1405, to amend the definition of election media; and to amend the definition under election law.
 

HB1461, to require legislative review of new federal election guidance; and to amend the duties of the secretary of state.
 

HB1464, to amend the law concerning complaints of election law violations; and to amend the law concerning the state board of election commissioners.
 

HB1510, to amend the law concerning special elections on measures and questions.
 

SB251, concerning the administrative office of the keep Arkansas beautiful commission; and to amend the duties of the state parks division.
 

HB1394, to update the law on spendthrift trusts; and to allow for the creation of a domestic asset protection. trust.
 

HB1431, to amend the Arkansas trust code to allow for the decanting of trusts.
 

SB91, to establish the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact in Arkansas.
 

SB112, to authorize physician assistants to be identified as a treating provider for insurance billing and claims and to bill and receive payment for provided healthcare services.
 

SB323, to permit the secretary of the department of labor and licensing to designate a person to serve on his or her behalf on the elevator safety board.
 

SB344, to require posting of a written notice that attacking a healthcare professional is a felony; and to allow a healthcare professional to use a work address when reporting certain offenses.
 

SB267, to transfer the criminal detention facility review committees, and the office of criminal detention facilities review coordinator to the department of public safety; and to declare an emergency.
 

HB1328, to repeal the annual reporting requirement by the arkansas geographic information systems board concerning the arkansas spatial data infrastructure.
 

HB1338, to amend the Arkansas video service act; and to provide clarity concerning the use of a public right of way.
 

HB1389, to require a service industry license for certain persons or entities related to casino gaming; and to require background checks for service industry licensees employed by a franchise holder or casino licensee. 
 

HB1483, to amend the law concerning retention of criminal background checks.

SB94, to modify the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act.

SB297, to amend the Arkansas underground facilities damage prevention act; and to declare an emergency.

HB1482, to amend Arkansas law concerning the membership of the delta cultural center policy advisory board. 

HB1484, to amend the law concerning the operation of bank facilities. 

HB1497, to amend the formula rate review act; and to modify the term of a formula rate review approved by the arkansas public service commission.
 

HB1065, an act for the department of transformation and shared services – division of information systems appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1075, an act for the department of finance and administration – child support enforcement appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 
 

HB1079, an act for the department of commerce – state securities department appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1080, an act for the department of health – tobacco prevention and cessation programs appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1081, an act for the department of commerce – arkansas rehabilitation services appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 
 

HB1106, an act for the department of the military appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HB1134, an act for the department of corrections – division of community correction appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
 

HCR1008, to recognize the Fouke High School panther marching band for winning class 3a state championships and to recognize the Fouke High School and Paulette Smith Middle School concert bands for being named 2022 class 3a state honor bands.
 

HCR1010, to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Harold Chaffin for his dedication and sacrifices made on behalf of the United States.
 

HB1315, to create the seizure safe schools act. 
 

HB1393, to create mental health awareness week in public schools. 

SB250, to amend the law concerning paper ballots; to amend the law concerning marking and counting paper ballots; to amend the law concerning the declaration of election results; and to declare an emergency.

Severe weather risk for the ArkLaTex Friday

Showers and thunderstorms this morning will decrease in coverage before redevelopment later this afternoon. A squall line is then expected to sweep across the state.with the possibility of strong tornadoes with the best chances over the southeast. 

In addition to the severe threat, flooding is a concern. Several inches of rain fell across parts of northwest Arkansas last night with additional widespread rain expected. The precipitation is expected to exit the state late this evening.

LEARNS Act pays for teacher salary mandates, but districts must adjust schedules

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act will increase beginning teacher salaries in the Bryant School District by $7,500 and give all teachers above $50,000 a raise of $2,000, but the district will have to adjust its current salary schedule.

The legislation’s sponsor says the act’s mandated raises will be funded and that school districts can create salary schedules that meet their needs.

Signed into law March 8, the LEARNS Act increases the state’s minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000 and guarantees all teachers at least a $2,000 raise.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/learns-act-pays-for-teacher-salary-mandates-but-districts-must-adjust-schedules/

Producers Rice Mill to erect largest solar storage microgrid in the state

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Producers Rice Mill will have a new solar storage microgrid developed by Scenic Hill Solar and it will be a record-breaking.

The groups announced the project on Tuesday (March 21), but a timetable to complete the microgrid and price tag were not released.

The Producers’ project is the largest commercial and industrial solar project in Arkansas history and one of the largest microgrid projects in the U.S., the companies said. Since 1943, the Producers Rice Mill cooperative’s members – now including more than 2,000 U.S. farmers — have relied on the Producers’ facility in Stuttgart, to process, store, and ship their harvest around the world. The facility mills more than 40 million bushels of rice every year.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/producers-rice-mill-to-erect-largest-solar-storage-microgrid-in-the-state/

Bill seeks to ease workforce barriers for Arkansans with disabilities

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A new bill in the Arkansas Legislature seeks to make it easier for Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enter the workforce.

Senate Bill 443, sponsored by Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, would create a new state “Office of Employment First” and an advisory committee composed of disability rights advocates and officials from state government and the private sector.

Jonathan Taylor, executive director of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, said another goal is to partner with businesses across the state to hire more Arkansans living with disabilities.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-23/bill-seeks-to-ease-workforce-barriers-for-arkansans-with-disabilities

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

The Arkansas State Capitol building is seen in this file photo from February 2023.

Arkansas legislators file two bills related to abortion during Spring Break

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas legislators filed two bills Wednesday morning pertaining to abortion, which is all but illegal in the state.

Arkansas has one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans, Act 180 of 2019, with the sole exception “to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.” The act went into effect in June 2022, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and left abortion access up to individual states.

House Bill 1684, filed by Rep. Denise Garner (D-Fayetteville), would add the health of the mother as an additional exception to Act 180, broadening the definition of a “medical emergency.” The bill was filed a day after Oklahoma’s Supreme Court loosened that state’s near-total abortion ban by allowing exceptions for the health of the mother.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-23/arkansas-legislators-file-two-bills-related-to-abortion-during-spring-break

Charlie Neibergall/AP

Bottles of the abortion-inducing drug RU-486, which is used to medically induce abortions in a two-step process. Women take mifepristone (left), and days later, they take misoprostol.

Texas federal court grants WOTUS injunction for two states; two more requests pending

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A federal court has halted implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule defining waters of the United States, and two more injunction requests are pending in cases involving 25 states, including Arkansas, said Brigit Rollins, National Agricultural Law Center staff attorney.

The new rule went into effect on Monday. The U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas issued the injunction Sunday night in Texas vs. EPA. The case halts implementation of the new EPA rule in both Texas and Idaho.

An injunction granted by a federal court judge is only the beginning for three cases challenging EPA's new rule that defines waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, according to Brigit Rollins of the National Agricultural Law Center. (U of A System Division of Agriuclture image)

There are two other cases pending — Kentucky Chamber of Commerce vs. EPA, which involves only Kentucky, and State of West Virginia vs. EPA, which involves 24 states, including Arkansas. Following the Texas action, attorneys in the two other cases filed additional briefs Sunday noting the injunction.

The injunction is “not the end of the road. That’s just sort of the first step in the lawsuit,” Rollins said. “The arguments and the claims are still lingering” and need to be heard.

“Should the judges in those other two lawsuits issue injunctions, there are a couple of things that are going to happen right away: Once the judge issues the injunction, the current WOTUS rule will no longer be in legal effect,” Rollins said. “What that means is that EPA is going to be applying the previous WOTUS rule that was in place.”

At issue in all three cases is how EPA defines “waters of the U.S.,” known as WOTUS. That definition is critical to enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

Muddying the waters

The legal vortex surrounding WOTUS means the waters may get muddier before clarity is achieved. Rollins said the situation harkens back to EPA’s 2015 rule redefining WOTUS and the resulting lawsuits.

“What ultimately ended up happening was that more than 50 percent of the states had an injunction on that 2015 rule,” she said. “What it meant for those states is that they were applying a different WOTUS rule than in the states that had not joined the suits.

“It’s not impossible that we could see that again,” Rollins said.

“It creates confusion for landowners, members of agricultural communities, and members of industrial communities. I would imagine it would be particularly challenging for anyone who is operating in multiple states,” she said. “You might be subject to different requirements in different states.

“There is the potential for issues to arise with pending Clean Water Act permits that are sort of stuck between those different rules,” Rollins said. “And at the moment it's going to be hard to say what that means for those permits.”

The National Agricultural Law Center has a page dedicated to WOTUS updates.

For updates on WOTUS and other agricultural law developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the National Agricultural Law Center

The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.

The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

UAMS Holds Second Girlology Puberty Event

UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology physicians Laura Hollenbach, M.D., Nirvana Manning, M.D., and Kathryn Stambough, M.D., taught girls ages 8-14 at the second Girlology puberty event. Image by Bryan Clifton

By Yavonda Chase

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) welcomed more than 230 preteen and teen girls and their mothers, fathers or caregivers to the second Girlology puberty event.

Girlology participants raise their hands to ask questions during the event.Bryan Clifton

Held March 12 in the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Girlology aimed to help girls face puberty with greater confidence. Girls ages 8-14 attended the 2.5-hour course, accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

During Girlology, attendees learned about such topics as growth and development; bras and bra shopping; hygiene and hair management; nutrition and growth; menstruation and menstrual hygiene; respect for self and others; moods and emotions; and internet safety and curiosity.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/03/20/uams-holds-second-girlology-puberty-event/