Gov. Nixon signs Missouri license plate, higher education fund bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- No Kansas Jayhawks will be appearing on Show-Me State license plates -- at least unless Missouri lawmakers say it is OK.

Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law Thursday a broader higher education measure that would require state lawmakers to approve specialty license plates for colleges and universities. State lawmakers were seeking to impede possible efforts by fans to have the University of Kansas featured on a Missouri license plate.

Besides license plates, the higher education legislation also creates a new state fund to help finance construction at public colleges and universities. The proposed Higher Education Capital Fund would provide state matching funds for capital improvement projects at public colleges and universities. The schools would raise their share of the money through private donations or grants.