Mandate Requires All New Cars to Include AM Radio Receivers; Federal Law Preempts State Rules

If you’ve bought a new car recently, you might have noticed a trend: some manufacturers are quietly dropping AM radio from their infotainment systems. For some, it’s no big deal; for others, especially those who rely on AM for local news or rural coverage, it’s a problem. This proposed legislation, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, aims to stop that trend dead in its tracks by making AM reception a mandatory feature in all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S.

Essentially, the bill requires the Secretary of Transportation, working with FEMA and the FCC, to issue a rule within one year mandating that devices capable of receiving and playing content from AM broadcast stations be installed as standard equipment in every new car. This applies to vehicles manufactured here or imported after the rule takes effect. The good news for manufacturers is that they can use digital AM signals to meet the requirement, but the kicker for consumers is that manufacturers are explicitly forbidden from charging an extra fee or surcharge for this feature beyond the vehicle’s base price. This is a clear move to preserve AM radio's role, particularly in emergency communications, by ensuring it’s in every new vehicle on the road.

The Emergency Alert Lifeline

The biggest driver behind this mandate is public safety. AM radio is often the backbone of emergency communications, especially in remote areas or during major disasters when cell towers and internet services fail. The bill specifically links this requirement to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

To figure out just how essential AM is, the bill tasks the Comptroller General (the head of the GAO) with conducting a massive study. This study will assess how well AM radio, compared to other technologies, ensures the President can reach at least 90% of the U.S. population during a crisis, even at night. This is the government essentially saying, “Before we let this technology fade, we need to know what we’re losing in terms of disaster preparedness.” For anyone who lives in a rural area or commutes through spots with spotty cell service, this mandated redundancy is a significant benefit.

The Automotive Innovation Speed Bump

While the public safety angle is strong, the bill introduces clear regulatory hurdles for the auto industry. Before issuing the final rule, the Secretary of Transportation has to submit a report evaluating any potential negative effects this AM mandate might have on automotive innovation and motor vehicle safety, particularly for cars equipped with automated driving systems (Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomy). This is where the rubber meets the road—or rather, the radio waves meet the sensors.

AM radio signals can sometimes create electromagnetic interference, which could potentially mess with the sensitive sensors and computing systems required for advanced automated driving. Manufacturers will now have to spend time and money designing around this issue, which could be a drag on innovation timelines. For consumers, this means the cost of compliance will be baked into the final vehicle price, and there’s a risk, however small, that design compromises might be necessary to accommodate the older technology. The bill also includes a four-year grace period for smaller manufacturers (those selling 40,000 or fewer vehicles in 2022) to help them adjust.

Federal Preemption and the Sunset Clause

Another major provision is the preemption clause (SEC. 3(e)), which states that once this Act is in effect, no state or local government can create or enforce any law regarding access to AM broadcast stations in passenger vehicles. This standardizes the requirement nationwide but removes any local ability to regulate vehicle features, even if a state wanted to mandate a different, perhaps more modern, emergency alert system.

Finally, the entire Act is temporary. It includes a sunset provision (SEC. 3(g)), meaning the law, and the Secretary’s authority to enforce the rule, will expire eight years after enactment. This suggests Congress views this as an interim measure, giving the country time to transition to a more modern, resilient emergency communication system while ensuring AM radio coverage doesn't vanish overnight.