Read the full stored bill text
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 1092
Introduced by Bostar, 29.
Read first time January 15, 2026
Committee: Transportation and Telecommunications
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to license plates; to amend section1
60-3,163.02, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025; to provide for Back2
the Blue License Plates and Iconic-Design License Plates; to provide3
duties to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Nebraska State4
Patrol, and the Department of Health and Human Services; to create5
funds; to provide for grants to certain associations and providers6
as prescribed; to eliminate obsolete provisions; and to repeal the7
original section. 8
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,9
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-1-
Section 1. Section 60-3,163.02, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025,1
is amended to read: 2
60-3,163.02 The department shall issue the following types of3
alternate license plates pursuant to this section and sections 60-3,104,4
60-3,163, and 60-3,163.01: 5
(1) Arbor Day Plates. The department shall design such license6
plates in consultation with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and a7
nonprofit organization holding a certificate of exemption under section8
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with a mission to inspire people9
to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. The design of such license plates10
shall represent the history and importance of Arbor Day in Nebraska. The11
designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Arbor Day12
Plates is the Home of Arbor Day Plate Cash Fund . A person may apply for13
Arbor Day Plates beginning on January 1, 2026; 14
(2) Back the Blue License Plates. The department shall design such15
license plates in consultation with associations that represent personnel16
of any law enforcement agency in Nebraska. The design of such license17
plates shall represent support for law enforcement personnel. The18
designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Back the Blue19
License Plates is the Back the Blue Cash Fund. A person may apply for20
Back the Blue License Plates beginning on January 1, 2027;21
(3) (2) Breast Cancer Awareness Plates. The department shall design22
such license plates to include a pink ribbon and the words "early23
detection saves lives" along the bottom of the license plate. The24
designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Breast Cancer25
Awareness Plates is the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the26
breast cancer navigator program; 27
(4) (3) Choose Life License Plates. The department shall design such28
license plates to reflect support for the protection of Nebraska's29
children. The designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for30
Choose Life License Plates is the Health and Human Services Cash Fund to31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-2-
supplement federal funds available to the Department of Health and Human1
Services for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, 422
U.S.C. 601 et seq.; 3
(5) (4) Czech Heritage Plates. The department, in consultation with4
the Czech Honorary Consul of Nebraska, shall design such license plates5
to reflect Czech heritage in Nebraska. The designated recipient for6
alternate license plate fees for Czech Heritage Plates is the Department7
of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund; 8
(6) (5) Donate Life Plates. The department shall design such license9
plates to reflect support for organ and tissue donation, registration as10
a donor on the Donor Registry of Nebraska, and the federally designated11
organ procurement organization for Nebraska. The designated recipient for12
alternate license plate fees for Donate Life Plates is the Organ and13
Tissue Donor Awareness and Education Fund; 14
(7) (6) Down Syndrome Awareness Plates. The department shall design15
such license plates to include the words "Down syndrome awareness" inside16
a heart-shaped yellow and blue ribbon. The designated recipient for17
alternate license plate fees for Down Syndrome Awareness Plates is the18
University of Nebraska Medical Center for the Down Syndrome Clinic;19
(8) Iconic-Design License Plates. For such license plates:20
(a) The designs of the license plates shall be inspired by license21
plates that were previously issued by the State of Nebraska but have22
since been retired. 23
(b)(i) The department shall design the following two types of24
Iconic-Design License Plates: 25
(A) Iconic-Design Black-Background License Plates. The design of26
such license plates shall be inspired by a license plate that used a27
plain black background and only white characters; and28
(B) Iconic-Design White-Background License Plates. The design of29
such license plates shall be inspired by a license plate that used a30
plain white background and only black characters. 31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-3-
(ii) The department may design the following two types of Iconic-1
Design License Plates: 2
(A) Iconic-Design Option One License Plates. If the department3
designs such license plates, the design of such license plates shall be4
inspired by any license plate that was previously issued by the State of5
Nebraska but has since been retired; and 6
(B) Iconic-Design Option Two License Plates. If the department7
designs such license plates, the design of such license plates shall be8
inspired by any license plate that was previously issued by the State of9
Nebraska but has since been retired. 10
(c) Each application for initial issuance or renewal of alphanumeric11
or personalized message Iconic-Design License Plates shall be accompanied12
by a fee of one hundred dollars. 13
(d) The designated recipient for Iconic-Design License Plates is the14
Developmental Disabilities Provider Capital and Equipment Maintenance15
Cash Fund. 16
(e)(i) A person may apply for Iconic-Design Black-Background License17
Plates or Iconic-Design White-Background License Plates beginning on18
January 1, 2027. 19
(ii) A person may apply for Iconic-Design Option One License Plates20
or Iconic-Design Option Two License Plates beginning on an implementation21
date designated by the director for such type of license plate.22
(9) (7) Josh the Otter-Be Safe Around Water Plates. The department23
shall design such license plates to include a blue background with the24
head of an otter surfacing above water surrounded by the words "Josh the25
Otter-Be Safe Around Water". The designated recipient for alternate26
license plate fees for Josh the Otter-Be Safe Around Water Plates is the27
Josh the Otter-Be Safe Around Water Cash Fund; 28
(10) (8) Mountain Lion Conservation Plates. The department shall29
design such license plates to reflect support for the conservation of the30
mountain lion population. The designated recipient for alternate license31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-4-
plate fees for Mountain Lion Conservation Plates is the Game and Parks1
Commission Educational Fund; 2
(11) (9) Native American Cultural Awareness and History Plates. The3
department, in consultation with the Commission on Indian Affairs, shall4
design license plates that reflect the unique culture and history of5
Native American tribes historically and currently located in Nebraska.6
The designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Native7
American Cultural Awareness and History Plates is the Native American8
Scholarship and Leadership Fund; 9
(12)(a) (10)(a) Nebraska Cornhusker Spirit Plates. The department10
shall design such license plates to (i) include the word "Cornhuskers" or11
"Huskers" prominently in the design, (ii) use scarlet and cream colors in12
the design or such other similar colors as the department determines to13
best represent the official team colors of the University of Nebraska14
Cornhuskers athletic programs and to provide suitable reflection and15
contrast, (iii) use cream or a similar color for the background of the16
design and scarlet or a similar color for the printing, and (iv) create a17
design reflecting support for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers18
athletic programs in consultation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln19
Athletic Department. 20
(b) Alphanumeric Nebraska Cornhusker Spirit Plates shall (i) be21
consecutively numbered beginning with the number one and use numbers that22
are a size that maximizes legibility, and (ii) not use a county23
designation or any characters other than numbers on the spirit plates.24
(c) Personalized message Nebraska Cornhusker Spirit Plates shall be25
issued subject to the same conditions specified for personalized message26
license plates in subsection (2) of section 60-3,118. The characters used27
shall consist only of letters, numerals, or a combination of letters and28
numerals of the same size and design specified in section 60-3,100. A29
maximum of seven characters may be used. 30
(d) Each application for initial issuance or renewal of Nebraska31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-5-
Cornhusker Spirit Plates shall be accompanied by a fee of seventy1
dollars. Fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be remitted to2
the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall credit sixty percent of3
the fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund and forty percent4
of the fee to the designated recipient for alternate license plate fees.5
(e) The designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for6
Nebraska Cornhusker Spirit Plates is the Highway Trust Fund;7
(13) (11) Nebraska History Plates. The department shall design such8
license plates in consultation with the Nebraska State Historical Society9
to reflect the importance of historical preservation in Nebraska and the10
value of our shared Nebraska history. The designated recipient for11
alternate license plate fees for Nebraska History Plates is the Support12
Nebraska History Cash Fund; 13
(14) (12) Pets for Vets Plates. The department shall design such14
license plates to support veterans and companion or therapy pet animals.15
The designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Pets for16
Vets Plates is the Pets for Vets Cash Fund; 17
(15) (13) Prostate Cancer Awareness Plates. The department shall18
design such license plates to include a light blue ribbon and the words19
"early detection saves lives" along the bottom of the license plate. The20
designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Prostate Cancer21
Awareness Plates is the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the22
Nebraska Prostate Cancer Research Program; 23
(16) (14) Sammy's Superheroes license plates for childhood cancer24
awareness. The department shall design such license plates to include a25
blue handprint over a yellow ribbon and the words "childhood cancer26
awareness". The designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for27
Sammy's Superheroes license plates for childhood cancer awareness is the28
University of Nebraska Medical Center for pediatric cancer research;29
(17) (15) Support the Arts Plates. The department shall design such30
license plates in consultation with the Nebraska Arts Council to reflect31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-6-
support for the arts in Nebraska. The designated recipient for alternate1
license plate fees for Support the Arts Plates is the Support the Arts2
Cash Fund; 3
(18)(a) (16)(a) Support Our Troops Plates. The department shall4
design such license plates to reflect support for troops from all5
branches of the armed forces. The designated recipient for alternate6
license plate fees for Support Our Troops Plates is the Veterans7
Employment Program Fund. 8
(b)(i) Each application for initial issuance or renewal of9
alphanumeric Support Our Troops Plates shall be accompanied by a fee of10
five dollars. The State Treasurer shall credit five dollars of the fee to11
the designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for Support Our12
Troops Plates. 13
(ii) Each application for initial issuance or renewal of14
personalized message Support Our Troops Plates shall be accompanied by a15
fee of seventy dollars. Twenty-five percent of such fee shall be credited16
to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund and seventy-five percent of17
such fee shall be credited to the designated recipient for alternate18
license plate fees for Support Our Troops Plates; 19
(19) (17) The Good Life Is Outside Plates. The department shall20
design such license plates to reflect the importance of safe walking and21
biking in Nebraska and the value of our recreational trails. The22
designated recipient for alternate license plate fees for The Good Life23
Is Outside Plates is the Game and Parks State Park Improvement and24
Maintenance Fund for the purpose of trail improvement and maintenance;25
and 26
(20) (18) Wildlife Conservation Plates. The department shall create27
no more than three designs for such license plates to reflect support for28
the conservation of Nebraska wildlife, including sandhill cranes, bighorn29
sheep, and ornate box turtles. The designated recipient for alternate30
license plate fees for Wildlife Conservation Plates is the Wildlife31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-7-
Conservation Fund. 1
Sec. 2. (1) The Back the Blue Cash Fund is created and shall be2
administered by the Nebraska State Patrol. The fund shall consist of3
gifts, grants, bequests, money received from any public or private4
source, money credited pursuant to section 60-3,163.02, and money5
transferred to the fund by the Legislature. 6
(2) Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested7
by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital8
Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act. Any interest9
or realized capital gains from any such investment shall be credited to10
the Back the Blue Cash Fund. 11
(3)(a) The fund shall only be used pursuant to this section.12
(b) The Nebraska State Patrol may award grants from the fund13
pursuant to section 3 of this act. 14
(c) The fund shall not be used for buying any equipment for or15
paying any salary or cost for the Nebraska State Patrol.16
Sec. 3. (1) For purposes of this section: 17
(a) Eligible purpose means: 18
(i) Providing support to any: 19
(A) Injured law enforcement personnel; 20
(B) Spouse of any injured or deceased law enforcement personnel; or21
(C) Child of any injured or deceased law enforcement personnel if22
such child is under the age of nineteen years old; or23
(ii) Conducting any charitable activity that supports the residents24
of this state; and 25
(b) Qualified applicant means any association that represents26
personnel of any law enforcement agency in this state.27
(2) A qualified applicant may apply to the Nebraska State Patrol for28
a grant under this section. The Nebraska State Patrol shall prescribe the29
form for the application. 30
(3) The Nebraska State Patrol may award a grant to any qualified31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-8-
applicant who applies under this section for an eligible purpose.1
(4) The State of Nebraska shall not require or request any recipient2
of a grant awarded under this section to reimburse any money received3
from such grant. 4
(5) No later than January 1, 2027, the Nebraska State Patrol shall5
prescribe the form for grant applications under this section.6
(6) The Nebraska State Patrol may adopt and promulgate rules and7
regulations to carry out this section. 8
Sec. 4. (1) The Developmental Disabilities Provider Capital and9
Equipment Maintenance Cash Fund is created and shall be administered by10
the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund shall consist of11
gifts, grants, bequests, money received from any public or private12
source, money credited pursuant to section 60-3,163.02, and money13
transferred to the fund by the Legislature. 14
(2) Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested15
by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital16
Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.17
(3)(a) The fund shall only be used pursuant to this section.18
(b) The Department of Health and Human Services may award grants19
from the fund pursuant to section 5 of this act. 20
(c) The fund shall not be used for the general operation or21
administration of the state's developmental disabilities program.22
Sec. 5. (1) For purposes of this section: 23
(a) Department means the Department of Health and Human Services;24
(b) Eligible purpose means any upgrade, modernization, renovation,25
maintenance, or new purchase of the following that are used by a provider26
to provide any developmental disability service: 27
(i) The transportation fleet that is used to provide support to or28
to transport any individual with a developmental disability;29
(ii) Any physical infrastructure or safety feature, including any30
feature that is used to reinforce any space that is used to provide any31
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-9-
developmental disability service, safety glass, any perimeter security1
feature, and any other physical improvement that is meant to protect any2
client or staff member of a provider; 3
(iii) Any technology or remote-support infrastructure that is used4
to support or monitor any client, staff member, or facility5
infrastructure of a provider. Such technology or remote-support6
infrastructure includes any sensor, smart-home automation feature, and7
broadband infrastructure; and 8
(iv) Any facility to increase capacity for clients or optimize space9
that is available for clients or the provision of any developmental10
disability service, including any facility floorplan efficiency11
improvement and installation of any amenity or restroom; and12
(c) Provider means any entity that is under contract with the13
department to provide any specialized or assisted service under section14
83-1217. 15
(2) A provider may apply to the department for a grant under this16
section. The department shall prescribe the form for the application.17
(3) The department may award a grant to any qualified applicant who18
applies under this section for an eligible purpose.19
(4) No later than January 1, 2027, the department shall prescribe20
the form for grant applications under this section.21
(5) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to22
carry out this section. 23
Sec. 6. Original section 60-3,163.02, Revised Statutes Supplement,24
2025, is repealed. 25
LB1092
2026
LB1092
2026
-10-