--- title: "Employment practices liability in Arkansas" description: "Arkansas’s nine-employee threshold, hairstyle protections, and direct-action process shape the claims and deadlines to review in an EPLI quote." canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices/arkansas" page-type: "coverage-state-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-28" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices/arkansas) # Employment practices liability in Arkansas For Arkansas businesses, the state civil-rights law starts at nine employees and treats natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles as part of race and national-origin discrimination. Claims proceed through a private civil action, so confirm the entity’s employee count, the policy’s retaliation terms, and its reporting instructions.[^1][^2][^3] **Coverage:** [Employment practices liability](/coverage/employment-practices) · [Arkansas](/coverage/states/arkansas) ## What Is Employment Practices Liability? EPLI can help pay covered defense costs and losses when applicants or workers allege discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination or other workplace wrongdoing. If you employ people, check the claim definition, defense costs and prior acts. [Read the national Employment practices liability guide](/coverage/employment-practices). ## Arkansas Requirements | Requirement | Details | | --- | --- | | Arkansas Civil Rights Act employer threshold | The Act defines an employer as one with at least nine Arkansas employees during 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year.[^1] | | Protected hairstyle characteristics | The Act’s definitions include natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle within race and national-origin discrimination.[^2] | ## What to Watch for in Arkansas ### Recheck the nine-employee band Arkansas uses a nine-employee state threshold over 20 or more weeks in the current or prior calendar year. Ask which entities and workers are included in the policy schedule and whether the state threshold changes the quote’s assumptions.[^1] ### Include hairstyle decisions in discrimination controls Arkansas defines race and national origin to include discrimination because of natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle, including locs, braids, twists, and curls. Ask whether the policy’s wording treats such allegations as covered discrimination claims and whether any exclusion changes the defense response.[^2] ### Prepare for a private lawsuit and size-based damages limits The Arkansas Civil Rights Act has no state enforcement mechanism, and its employment claims use a direct civil action. For intentional discrimination, state compensatory and punitive damages are capped by employer-size bands; the action deadline is one year or 90 days after an EEOC right-to-sue or determination notice, whichever is later. Ask who handles suit papers and how notice must reach the insurer.[^3][^4] ## Who Regulates Insurance in Arkansas **Arkansas Insurance Department.** The Arkansas Insurance Department licenses resident and nonresident producers and business entities, accepts insurance complaints, and provides links to company and producer license searches. It operates as a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce.[^5][^6][^10][^7] - [Regulator website](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/) - [License lookup](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/industry-regulation/licensing/) - [File a complaint](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/consumer-assistance/consumer-services/file-a-complaint/) - Phone: (800) 852-5494 ### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office **Reported tax rate:** 4% when Arkansas is the insured's home state Arkansas's broker filing instructions set a 4% surplus-lines tax. Federal law assigns nonadmitted-insurance regulation and tax to the insured’s home state; for a multistate policy, ask your broker to show the home state and the premium allocation used for the Arkansas filing. Arkansas law requires the contract to disclose that the state's property-and-casualty guaranty protection does not apply.[^8][^9][^11] ## Providers With Documented State Licenses These providers publish a national listing for Employment practices liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm that the product is available in Arkansas; [check the regulator’s license lookup](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/industry-regulation/licensing/) and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote. - [Coalition](/insurance-providers/coalition) — **Entity:** Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.; **role:** Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only.[^13] - [Corgi](/insurance-providers/corgi) — **Entity:** Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability.[^14] - [TechInsurance](/insurance-providers/techinsurance) — **Entity:** Specialty Program Group LLC; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map.[^17] - [Vouch](/insurance-providers/vouch) — **Entity:** Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC; **role:** Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability.[^18] ## Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Arkansas 1. Does the policy list every Arkansas employing entity and use an employee count that matches the Act’s nine-worker threshold? 2. Does the policy’s discrimination and retaliation wording include Arkansas hairstyle allegations? 3. Who must receive an Arkansas summons or demand, and what reporting deadline and consent rules apply? ## Employment Practices Liability in Arkansas: FAQ ### Does Arkansas route an Arkansas Civil Rights Act claim through a state civil-rights agency? The U.S. Department of Labor’s state guide says the Act has no state enforcement mechanism and identifies a private right of action. Arkansas’s statute provides for a civil action against the employer.[^4][^3] ### What is the Arkansas Civil Rights Act employment-suit deadline? The statute sets one year from the alleged employment discrimination, or 90 days after receipt of an EEOC right-to-sue letter or determination notice, whichever is later. This legal deadline is separate from the policy’s notice requirements.[^3] ## Employment Practices Liability in Other States - [Alabama](/coverage/employment-practices/alabama) - [Alaska](/coverage/employment-practices/alaska) - [Arizona](/coverage/employment-practices/arizona) - [California](/coverage/employment-practices/california) - [Colorado](/coverage/employment-practices/colorado) - [Connecticut](/coverage/employment-practices/connecticut) - [Delaware](/coverage/employment-practices/delaware) - [District of Columbia](/coverage/employment-practices/district-of-columbia) - [Florida](/coverage/employment-practices/florida) - [Georgia](/coverage/employment-practices/georgia) - [Hawaii](/coverage/employment-practices/hawaii) - [Idaho](/coverage/employment-practices/idaho) - [Illinois](/coverage/employment-practices/illinois) - [Indiana](/coverage/employment-practices/indiana) - [Iowa](/coverage/employment-practices/iowa) - [Kansas](/coverage/employment-practices/kansas) - [Kentucky](/coverage/employment-practices/kentucky) - [Louisiana](/coverage/employment-practices/louisiana) - [Maine](/coverage/employment-practices/maine) - [Maryland](/coverage/employment-practices/maryland) - [Massachusetts](/coverage/employment-practices/massachusetts) - [Michigan](/coverage/employment-practices/michigan) - [Minnesota](/coverage/employment-practices/minnesota) - [Mississippi](/coverage/employment-practices/mississippi) - [Missouri](/coverage/employment-practices/missouri) - [Montana](/coverage/employment-practices/montana) - [Nebraska](/coverage/employment-practices/nebraska) - [Nevada](/coverage/employment-practices/nevada) - [New Hampshire](/coverage/employment-practices/new-hampshire) - [New Jersey](/coverage/employment-practices/new-jersey) - [New Mexico](/coverage/employment-practices/new-mexico) - [New York](/coverage/employment-practices/new-york) - [North Carolina](/coverage/employment-practices/north-carolina) - [North Dakota](/coverage/employment-practices/north-dakota) - [Ohio](/coverage/employment-practices/ohio) - [Oklahoma](/coverage/employment-practices/oklahoma) - [Oregon](/coverage/employment-practices/oregon) - [Pennsylvania](/coverage/employment-practices/pennsylvania) - [Rhode Island](/coverage/employment-practices/rhode-island) - [South Carolina](/coverage/employment-practices/south-carolina) - [South Dakota](/coverage/employment-practices/south-dakota) - [Tennessee](/coverage/employment-practices/tennessee) - [Texas](/coverage/employment-practices/texas) - [Utah](/coverage/employment-practices/utah) - [Vermont](/coverage/employment-practices/vermont) - [Virginia](/coverage/employment-practices/virginia) - [Washington](/coverage/employment-practices/washington) - [West Virginia](/coverage/employment-practices/west-virginia) - [Wisconsin](/coverage/employment-practices/wisconsin) - [Wyoming](/coverage/employment-practices/wyoming) [Other Coverage in Arkansas](/coverage/states/arkansas) ## Sources [^1]: [Act 191 of 2017 — Arkansas Civil Rights Act employer definition](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2017R%2FPublic%2FACT191.pdf) — Arkansas General Assembly; Section 1 amending Ark. Code § 16-123-102(5): nine or more Arkansas employees in 20 or more calendar weeks of the current or preceding year; approved 2017-03-31.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^2]: [Act 514 of 2023 — Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act](https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?ddBienniumSession=2023%2F2023R&file=514.pdf&path=%2FACTS%2F2023R%2FPublic%2F) — Arkansas General Assembly; Section 4 amending Ark. Code § 16-123-102 definitions to include natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle within race and national-origin discrimination; approved 2023-04-10.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^3]: [Act 783 of 2017 — Arkansas Civil Rights Act discrimination and retaliation provisions](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2017R%2FPublic%2FACT783.pdf) — Arkansas General Assembly; Section 2 amending Ark. Code § 16-123-107(c): employment civil action, size-based compensatory/punitive damage caps for intentional discrimination, back-pay limits, and one-year/90-day-right-to-sue deadline; approved 2017-03-31.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^4]: [Workforce Discrimination Resources by State](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/faith/workforce-discrimination-resources-by-state) — U.S. Department of Labor; Arkansas entry: no state enforcement mechanism for the Arkansas Civil Rights Act, private right of action and one-year/90-day EEOC-notice deadlines.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^5]: [Arkansas Insurance Department](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/) — Arkansas Insurance Department; Official agency homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^6]: [Licensing](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/industry-regulation/licensing/) — Arkansas Insurance Department; Licensing Division guidance and state-based systems lookup for Arkansas agent and agency licensees. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^7]: [File A Complaint](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/consumer-assistance/consumer-services/file-a-complaint/) — Arkansas Insurance Department; Online complaint filing for insurance providers, including agents and companies. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^8]: [Surplus Lines Brokers Filing](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/industry-regulation/accounting/surplus-lines-brokers-filing/) — Arkansas Insurance Department; Current broker filing instructions state that 4% broker tax must be remitted. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^9]: [23 CAR § 201-104: Endorsement of contract](https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?chapterID=39&levelType=section&partID=889§ionID=37685&subChapterID=242&subPartID=5774&titleID=23) — Arkansas Code of Rules; Required surplus-lines contract disclosure: no Arkansas P&C Guaranty Act protection and 4% tax collected from insured. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^10]: [Property and Casualty Insurers](https://insurance.arkansas.gov/industry-regulation/product-compliance/property-casualty-insurers/) — Arkansas Insurance Department; Company Search verifies whether an insurer is licensed in Arkansas. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^11]: [15 U.S.C. § 8202: Regulation of nonadmitted insurance by insured's home State](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A15+section%3A8202+edition%3Aprelim%29) — U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; § 8202(a): nonadmitted placement is subject solely to insured's home-State requirements, except as otherwise provided; § 8201 addresses exclusive home-State tax authority. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^12]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21. [^13]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22. [^14]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^15]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16. [^16]: [Licenses](https://www.nextinsurance.com/insurance-licenses/) — ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^17]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^18]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15. Updated 2026-09-28. This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy). 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