By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Representative Steve Hurst has prefiled a bill in the Alabama House that would require most Alabama car tags to include the phrase ``God Bless America.'' Some specialty license plates and motorcycle tags would be exempt. Hurst says having it on the tags will let all the people in America know that ``we are a Bible Belt state.'' He says ``God Bless America'' would not replace anything currently on Alabama car tags. State law requires that the phrase ``Heart of Dixie'' be on Alabama plates. Hurst says he believes the plates could be designed so that there would be room for ``God Bless America'' without removing ``Heart of Dixie'' or ``Stars Fell on Alabama.'' There have been efforts in recent years by some black lawmakers to remove ``Heart of Dixie'' from car tags because they view it as a reference to the segregated South.