BEATRICE – A southeast Nebraska State Senator has introduced a bill to create a Czech Heritage license plate in Nebraska. Senator Tom Brandt, of Plymouth, represents District 32, which has a large contingent of Czech descendants in the Saline County part of the district.

"We're very fortunate to have many ways to celebrate Czech Heritage and culture year-round in Nebraska...with the August Czech Days in Wilber, being among the most popular. Whether you participate in Czech culture by eating a kolache, or drinking a pivo...Czech Heritage is an integral part of Nebraska history."

LB 140 would establish a Czech Heritage license plate to be designed by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles with the assistance of the Czech Heritage Consul in Nebraska. Brandt’s bill was before the legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Monday…..as committee hearings kicked off for this 90-day session.

(Committee member)..."Senator Brandt, to you have any Czech Heritage?...(Brandt)..."None....I am German...it's kind of like everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day...except down there we celebrate Czech Days the first weekend of August in Wilber for like the last, 'forever.' Forty thousand people can't be wrong."

Brandt wore a Czech Heritage vest while he introduced the bill to the legislative committee.

The plate would cost $5…..$40 if personalized. The money from the plates would go into the DMV cash fund. Brandt says the idea for the license plate bill was suggested by Linda Taborek of the Czech Language Foundation and by Saline County Treasurer, Deb Spanyers.