Congress mandates AM radio in every new car for emergency alerts

What it does

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule within one year mandating that all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. include AM radio receivers as standard equipment. Manufacturers must make AM radio easily accessible to drivers and can comply by installing digital AM receivers. The rule takes effect 2 years after issuance for most manufacturers, 4 years for smaller ones. The stated purpose is to ensure emergency alert access via AM broadcast during crises, though the bill also requires a Government Accountability Office study on emergency alert systems.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a regulatory mandate requiring vehicle manufacturers to install AM radio receivers as standard equipment. While framed around emergency alert resilience, the core function is a product-design requirement imposed on the automotive industry.

What the text implies

• The bill preempts state and local regulation of AM radio access in vehicles (subsection e), centralizing automotive radio standards at the federal level and preventing states from imposing stricter or alternative requirements.
• The GAO study on emergency alert systems (subsection g) may recommend additional communication mandates beyond AM radio, potentially laying groundwork for future vehicle-based alert infrastructure requirements.
• The 8-year sunset clause (subsection i) means the rule and enforcement authority expire unless Congress reauthorizes, creating a future legislative pressure point for the automotive and broadcasting industries.
• Manufacturers of vehicles with automated driving systems must address potential electromagnetic interference from AM radio reception, which could impose engineering and testing costs not explicitly quantified in the bill.
• The bill does not specify technical standards for AM receiver quality, range, or audio clarity, leaving implementation details to the Secretary and potentially creating compliance disputes.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary citizens gain access to AM radio receivers in vehicles, which provides a resilient emergency alert channel independent of cellular/internet infrastructure. The mandate ensures this capability is available to all vehicle purchasers without additional cost, strengthening public safety during crises. The compliance timeline accommodates smaller manufacturers.

Who stands to gain

• AM radio broadcasters (expanded audience reach via mandatory vehicle receivers)
• Automotive suppliers manufacturing AM radio receiver components
• Emergency management agencies (enhanced alert distribution capability)

Named in the bill

Department of Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Government Accountability Office, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), SAE International (J3016 automation standards), Automotive manufacturers, AM radio broadcasters

Where it stands

317 cosponsors: 159 Republicans, 158 Democrats.

• Feb 5, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Feb 5, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and House Committee on Homeland Security · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit”
• Sep 17, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Sep 17, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 50 - 1”
• Sep 15, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote”
• Sep 15, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

37 lobbying clients named this bill on 59 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $25,770,357 in lobbying spend. A filing names 6 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 98% of bills with at least one filing.

Gus Bilirakis, the sponsor, reported $937,250 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• National Association of Broadcasters — $5,600,000 on 2 filings
• AARP — $5,300,000 on 1 filing
• Toyota Motor North America Inc (tma) — $3,483,687 on 2 filings
• General Motors Company — $3,150,000 on 1 filing
• Consumer Technology Association — $2,450,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.