It appears Ron White of Florence will soon get the happy ending he's always wanted in his historic battle against South Carolina's ban on tattooing.

A conference committee agreed on a compromise bill Thursday lifting the state's ban on tattooing. It passed the House and Senate just hours later and will soon be on its way to Gov. Mark Sanford's desk.

"It's a great day," said White, whose 1999 arrest for violating the state ban brought the fight to legalize tattooing to national prominence. "I'm very, very pleased with the bill that passed. Now, I'm just ready to open up a shop here in Florence and in Myrtle Beach and be able to practice my profession and art legally."

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said Thursday afternoon that the governor has said he will sign the bill as long as it protects public safety.

"The governor has said throughout this process that, provided the appropriate health safeguards were part of the legislation, he would not oppose this bill," Folks said. "Obviously, we'll take a look at the legislation that's come to his desk to determine if those safeguards have indeed been implemented."

Many states outlawed tattooing in the 1960s, but South Carolina and Oklahoma are the only states to continue the ban today.

The bill the General Assembly passed outlaws tattoos for anyone younger than age 18 and requires a parent's permission for anyone between ages 18 and 21.

Tattoo artists will have to use disposable needles and follow local zoning laws, such as opening businesses away from churches and schools. Tattoo parlors also will need a license before opening.

However, a provision in the bill that would have given counties and municipalities the power to "regulate the location of a licensed tattoo facility more strictly" was taken out of the legislation.

"That was the part that we were concerned about," White said. "If they'd passed the bill as it was, it would have given too much power to municipalities in counties. They actually would have given them more authority than the state. All it would have done was legalize tattooing on paper, not in actual practice."

White said although he's pleased the bill passed, he hopes the state will one day reconsider the age restriction on 18- to 21-year-olds.

"It really doesn't make any sense," he said. "If an 18-year-old can fight and die in Iraq, he most certainly doesn't need and shouldn't have to have mommy's permission to get a tattoo."

A dedicated group of a dozen or so people watched the tattoo bill wind its way through the Legislature this year. The dark suits and blouses usually seen at Statehouse hearings were replaced by more casual attire. Tattoos peeked from sleeves, and the dozen or so supporters clapped when the 15-minute compromise meeting ended Thursday.

Several of them made it a point to shake Sen. William Mescher's hand. Like White, he also has fought to lift the ban on tattooing for about a decade.

Mescher said he figures the bill finally got through this year because churches and others opposed to tattooing for moral reasons eased their objections.

"It's going on anyway," Mescher, R-Pinopolis, said. "For health reasons, we've got to regulate it."

White said he has been asked to assist the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control in developing safety and health regulations that will have to be met and followed by any person wishing to obtain a tattooing license.

"We want to make sure all of that is in place before tattooing actually becomes legal," he said. "So basically, we're looking at some time next year for legalization to actually take effect. It's time to close the door on the 20 or 30 hacks in Florence who are giving tattoos and don't even have a clue what an autoclave (a sterilization chamber) is. Let's make them the criminals."

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.