Proposed Bill Mandates AM Radio in New Cars: Rule Due in One Year, Effective Within Three

This bill, the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025," directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a new rule within one year. The core requirement? All new passenger vehicles made or brought into the U.S. for sale must include equipment that can receive and play AM radio broadcasts as standard gear, easily accessible to drivers. The rule itself won't kick in immediately; it's set to take effect two to three years after being finalized, giving most manufacturers time to adjust. Smaller manufacturers (those producing 40,000 or fewer vehicles in 2022) get a bit more breathing room, with at least four years to comply.

Tuning In By Law: What the AM Radio Rule Means

The main thrust of this legislation is straightforward: make AM radio a standard feature in new cars again. If a car company decides to stop including AM radios after this bill passes but before the official rule takes effect, they have to be upfront about it. Section 3 mandates they must clearly inform buyers that the AM radio isn't included. Importantly, during this interim period, they can't charge extra just to have AM capability.

Why the mandate? The bill links AM radio access directly to the nation's public alert system, IPAWS. Think emergency broadcasts during severe weather or other crises. The idea is to ensure drivers have access to this critical information channel. Once the rule is active, failing to include AM radio could lead to civil penalties, enforced like other vehicle safety standards.

Beyond the Dashboard: Studies, States, and Sunsets

This isn't just about car stereos; it's also about evaluating how we get emergency information. The bill tasks the Comptroller General (head of the Government Accountability Office) with studying how emergency alerts are spread, specifically looking at AM radio's role in vehicles. A key question for the study: Can current or alternative technologies reliably reach at least 90% of the U.S. population during emergencies, especially overnight? Congress expects a briefing within a year and a full report with recommendations 180 days later.

Interestingly, the bill also steps on potential state-level actions. Section 3 explicitly prevents states from creating their own laws about AM radio access in vehicles, ensuring a single federal standard. Finally, this isn't necessarily forever. The Secretary of Transportation's authority to enforce this AM radio mandate has a shelf life; it expires 10 years after the bill becomes law, though the Secretary is required to review the rule's impact every five years.