AARP-Backed Bill to Keep AM Radio in Cars Moves Ahead

A bill that would ensure AM radio is a given in new cars passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, bringing it one step closer to becoming law.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act calls for the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring that AM radio be standard in all new passenger vehicles. The bill now moves to the Senate. There is one difference for the two chambers to resolve: The House version calls for the requirement to sunset eight years after the bill becomes law, while the Senate version extends it to 10 years.

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Many older Americans rely on AM radio for their news, emergency information and community engagement. Increasingly, though, automakers are dropping AM radio as a standard feature in some vehicles, especially new electric models. ​

AARP has been working to make sure this essential service is maintained and accessible. We endorsed a bill in 2025 that would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule requiring automakers to maintain AM radio as a standard feature of new vehicles — not as an add-on with an additional charge. ​

“AM radio plays a significant role in the lives of so many Americans, particularly older adults,” said Bill Sweeney, AARP senior vice president for government affairs, after the bill passed. “Particularly in rural areas where wireless and broadband connections are limited or nonexistent, AM radio is critical.”

A lifeline during emergencies

Older Americans want access to AM radio. A May 2026 AARP survey of Americans 50 and older found that 79 percent support legislation that would require all vehicles sold in the U.S. maintain AM radio as a free feature.

While only about a third of those surveyed said they actively listen to AM radio, they overwhelmingly support its inclusion in cars. AM radio is particularly important during emergencies, when cellphone coverage may be unreliable or information needs to be broadcast quickly and over a large area. When other networks are down, AM radio can still broadcast weather updates and important information in areas where a natural disaster might occur. ​

U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), cosponsors of the bill, wrote in a joint statement from February 2025: “From emergency response to sports, entertainment and news, AM radio is a lifeline that must be protected.” ​

Under the proposed legislation, most automakers would have a transition period of two to three years after the law is enacted to meet the requirement (some smaller automakers would have longer). During that transition period, companies selling vehicles without AM radio would be required to disclose that information with clear labeling. ​

The proposed legislation also requires the Government Accountability Office to investigate AM radio’s prominence in public safety messaging during emergencies and​ assess alternative public alert and warning communication technologies.

“We thank the House for their leadership in advancing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, and urge the Senate to follow suit,” Sweeney said.