The Secretary of State is the official keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska (Nebraska Constitution Art. IV, Sec. 24; Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 84-501). The secretary determines how it is used and by whom. The state seal is not in the public domain, and it is not available for the public’s use.
The secretary grants permission to use the seal for only two limited purposes. The first involves the use of the seal by a Nebraska state executive branch government agency for official business. The second involves the use of the seal to educate the public, such as using the seal in a textbook.
The seal cannot be used for purposes that are unrelated to Nebraska state government business, where its use may falsely suggest a state-approved or state-sanctioned purpose. The seal cannot be used for commercial or political purposes. Imitations or deceptively-similar images of the seal are prohibited from being used.
There are also restrictions on the use of the Nebraska state flag, which uses the seal as its centerpiece.
Requests for permission to use the state seal or state flag images must be made in writing to the Secretary of State’s Office, either in a letter or an e-mail. The request should include the following:
- The name of the person or entity making the request.
- Contact information for the person or entity making the request.
- Specific details on how the image will be used and for what purposes.
A written request should be sent to the Secretary of State’s Office, P.O. Box 94608, Lincoln, NE 68509-4608; or email sos.info@nebraska.gov.
The Secretary of State’s Office will respond promptly in writing whether the request has been approved or denied or whether more information is needed.
The Secretary of State reserves the right to revoke any approval granted if the secretary determines that the approval was obtained by false or inaccurate information in the request, or if such use violated a condition in the approval.
For further information about the use of the state seal or state flag, please contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (402) 471-4070 or email sos.info@nebraska.gov.
