The Arkansas Healthy Lifestyle Education Act of 2025 aims to enhance the health curriculum in public schools by addressing critical health issues affecting students. The Act mandates that, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, public schools must offer a health course for students in grades seven through twelve. This curriculum will cover various topics, including mental health, substance abuse, diet and obesity, tobacco use prevention, and teenage pregnancy prevention. Each topic will include specific educational components, such as suicide prevention methods, information on substance abuse, and strategies for preventing unintended pregnancies.

Additionally, the Act emphasizes the importance of evidence-based instruction and requires the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to collaborate with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Department of Health to develop appropriate health resources. The legislation also allows parents or legal guardians to request that their child be excused from any part of the teenage pregnancy prevention curriculum. Overall, the Act seeks to improve the health outcomes of Arkansas students by ensuring they receive comprehensive education on these pressing health issues.