National Guard plate fees would fund grants for needy service members

Nebraska’s Adjutant General, the state military leader, would manage the Military Department Aid Fund and could award grants from it. Only needy uniformed service members of Nebraska’s Military Department could qualify. Applicants would have to meet the Adjutant General’s eligibility rules. Awards would be optional and depend on money available in the fund. Nebraska could not require or request repayment. The fund could receive plate fees, donations, other public or private money, legislative transfers, and investment earnings. The Adjutant General would have to adopt eligibility rules no later than January 1, 2027.

The State Treasurer would direct specified National Guard plate fees to the Military Department Aid Fund. The aid fund would receive fees from Air National Guard and Army National Guard plates when first issued or renewed. The remaining $10 of each personalized-plate fee would go to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund. If manufacturing costs exceeded the standard plate charge, money would first go to the Highway Trust Fund to cover the difference. The specified fees from other military service, campaign medal, and veteran plates would go to the Nebraska Veteran Cemetery System Operation Fund.