Oklahoma became the last state to make tattoos legal when the governor signed legislation on Wednesday to license and regulate tattoo artists and parlors.

The measure ends a ban on tattooing that had been in effect since 1963. The new law takes effect Nov. 1.

The legislation calls for sanitation and health guidelines for tattoo artists and parlors and periodic inspections by the state Health Department. Previous attempts to lift the ban over the past decade were fought on health as well as moral grounds.

The Health Department endorsed the measure after expressing concern about an increase in hepatitis infections related to unsanitary tattooing practices.