State to offer mountain lion license plates

Nebraska drivers can show their support for mountain lions with special license plates under a bill passed by lawmakers Feb. 18.

Under LB474, introduced by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, the mountain lion conservation plate will be available in alphanumeric or personalized versions with designs supportive of Nebraska’s mountain lion population. The alphanumeric plate will display up to five characters and not use a county designation.

The license plates will be available Oct. 1, 2016.

The fee for the alphanumeric plates will be $5, credited to a newly created Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educational fund. Personalized plates will cost $40, with $10 credited to the Department of Motor Vehicles cash fund and $30 credited to the commission’s educational fund.

The commission is required to use the educational fund to teach youth about wildlife conservation practices.

The bill passed on a 47-0 vote.