While I don't often find myself in complete agreement with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (he writes a thank-you note on those rare occasions I compliment him), the latest e-mail from his office finds me clearly in his corner.

And what's that all about? Sanford signed H.3803 into law last week, removing legal requirements that say the person who shampoos your hair must have the equal number of state-mandated hours of training as the person you trust to cut your crowning glory.

Now I'm fully aware of the fact that most of us are very careful about whom we choose to do our coiffures.

Hair may not be important in other locales, but in South Carolina, a good hair day is cause for celebration, a new mug shot and possibly a new pair of shoes.

But to require 1,500 hours of training for a hair stylist, considerably more than our state requires for a police officer (396 hours) or to carry a concealed weapon (8 hours) just doesn't wash.

In a little more serious vein, Sanford notes in the communication that in many cases, over-regulation in our state "is more about protecting the profits of people in a particular industry rather than protecting the consumer." He also notes a fact I've written about in the past (occasionally at his expense; the notion of a "state snack" comes to mind), that such legislation, while sometimes adding a lighter note to the process, does at times interfere with more serious issues.

Other instances Sanford cited:

• A bill introduced in 2003 would have required all drinking straws in the state to be individually wrapped. While we find the idea of food safety commendable, Sanford says the "bill almost led to a fist fight on the House floor."

• Barbering schools are required not only to have at least 10 instructional chairs, but each must be "upholstered and finished exactly the same way."

• Musical instruments are not allowed to be sold on Sunday.

• Circuses cannot exceed 48 hours at one place in any one year.

But the fun doesn't end in South Carolina. An Internet search found other state laws that likely took up more legislative time than they deserved.

Note to readers: I didn't call every state and verify these, but having lived and worked in several of them (as well as being a proud Alabama native), I don't really doubt their existence:

• In Barre, Vt., residents are required to bathe on Saturday night (presumably whether they need to or not).

• In Michigan, government will pay you for throwing rocks at starlings and crows -- but only if you kill them.

• Tennessee prohibits anyone who has taken part in a duel to run for public office. Pennsylvania has the same law but with a twist. Apparently one can duel and also run for public office, just not the governor's office.

• In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to wear a blindfold.

• Chickens are a protected species in Key West, Fla.

• In North Dakota, it is illegal to fall asleep with your shoes on.

• Georgia prohibits keeping a donkey in the bathtub of a hotel or a motel or any similar place of temporary stay.

• Chickens are not allowed to cross the road -- not even to see what's on the other side -- in Quitman, Ga.

• And finally, my new favorite: In Nebraska, it is illegal for a woman to give her daughter a home perm without a state license. Speaking as a 50-something who in the early 1960s suffered a Toni at the hands of an otherwise excellent parent, it darned well should be.

• Bonnie Williams is the editorial page editor of the Anderson, S.C., Independent-Mail.