Nebraska’s iconic sower will grace the state’s new license plates.
A plate featuring the sower, which is atop the State Capitol, has been suggested in years past, said Rhonda Lahm, director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. The plates also feature a navy blue stripe across the top with “Nebraska” in yellow lettering. The colors come from the state flag. Along the bottom, the plates say 1867 to 2017, a nod to Nebraska’s 150th birthday next year.
Gov. Pete Ricketts unveiled the new design at a Tuesday press conference.
The new plates will be issued starting in January 2017. They will replace the current design that features a goldenrod sprig and meadowlark, the official state flower and state bird.
State law requires that new license plates be issued every six years.
There are alternatives to the state’s standard plate. Also new this year are mountain lion conservation plates, available Oct. 1, and Nebraska 150th sesquicentennial plates, which are available now.
The state’s standard design typically generates controversy, criticism or, at least, chatter among the public.
In 2010, state officials let an online vote decide among four designs for the new plates. But a humor website asked followers to cast online ballots for what it called the most boring design and that design won the vote.
Officials then recounted the votes and declared a different plate, the goldenrod and meadowlark design, as the winner.
This year’s plates were designed by the Department of Motor Vehicles staff, with the governor giving final approval.
