(1)(a)(i) Before January 1, 2026, any person who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, who was discharged or otherwise separated with a characterization of honorable or general (under honorable conditions), and who is classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least ten percent service-connected disabled may, in addition to the application required in section 60-385, apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for license plates designed by the department to indicate that the applicant is a disabled veteran. The inscription on the license plates shall be D.A.V. immediately below the license plate number to indicate that the holder of the license plates is a disabled veteran.

(ii) Beginning on January 1, 2026, when renewing the registration for a license plate described in subdivision (1)(a)(i) of this section, the department shall issue the license plates described in subdivision (1)(b)(i) of this section along with any required validation decals. The license plates described in subdivision (1)(a)(i) of this section shall not be valid for use on any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer beginning on February 1, 2027.

(b) Beginning on January 1, 2026, any person who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, who was discharged or otherwise separated with a characterization of honorable or general (under honorable conditions), and who is classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least ten percent service-connected disabled may, in addition to the application required in section 60-385, apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for disabled veteran license plates designed by the department:

(i) With the words "disabled veteran" immediately below the license plate number; or

(ii) With the words "disabled veteran" immediately below the license plate number and also carrying the internationally accepted wheelchair symbol specified in section 60-3,113.

(c) Beginning January 1, 2026, a trust that owns a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may apply for the license plates described in subdivision (1)(b)(i) or (ii) of this section if a designated beneficiary of the trust qualifies for such license plates.

(2)(a) To be eligible for license plates under this section, a person shall register with the Department of Veterans' Affairs pursuant to section 80-414. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall verify an applicant's eligibility using the registry established by the Department of Veterans' Affairs pursuant to section 80-414 prior to issuing any license plates under this section.

(b) To be eligible for the license plates described in subdivision (1)(b)(ii) of this section, in addition to any other eligibility requirements for such license plates under this section:

(i) An application and proof of disability in the form and with the information required by section 60-3,113.02 shall be submitted before issuance or reissuance of such license plates; and

(ii) The handicap or disability of the handicapped or disabled person shall be certified as permanent.

(c) Any number of motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers owned by the applicant may be licensed under this section at any one time. Motor vehicles and trailers registered under section 60-3,198 shall not be so licensed.

(3)(a) Beginning January 1, 2026, one type of disabled veteran license plates shall be alphanumeric plates. No license plate fee shall be required for such license plates. The department shall:

(i) Assign a designation up to five characters; and

(ii) Not use a county designation.

(b)(i) Beginning January 1, 2026, one type of disabled veteran license plates shall be personalized message license plates. Such license plates shall be issued subject to the same conditions specified for personalized message license plates in section 60-3,118, except that a maximum of five characters may be used.

(ii) Each application for initial issuance of personalized message disabled veteran license plates shall be accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. An application for renewal of such license plates shall be accompanied by a fee of forty dollars. Fees collected under this subdivision (3)(b)(ii) shall be remitted to the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall credit twenty-five percent of such fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund and seventy-five percent of such fee to the Nebraska Veteran Cemetery System Operation Fund.

(iii) No license plate fee under section 60-3,102 shall be required for personalized message disabled veteran license plates issued under this section, other than the fee provided for in subdivision (3)(b)(ii) of this section.

(4) If the license plates issued under this section are lost, stolen, or mutilated, the recipient of the plates shall be issued replacement license plates as provided in section 60-3,157.

(5) License plates issued under this section shall not require the payment of any additional license plate fees and shall be permanently attached to the vehicle to which the plates are registered as long as the vehicle is properly registered by the applicant annually.

(6) The county treasurer or the department may issue temporary license stickers to the applicant under this section for the applicant to lawfully operate the vehicle pending receipt of the license plates. No charge in addition to the registration fee shall be made for the issuance of a temporary license sticker under this subsection. The department shall furnish temporary license stickers for issuance by the county treasurer at no cost to the counties. The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations regarding the design and issuance of temporary license stickers.