COLUMBIA, S.C. -- In a sheaf of bills that became law Wednesday, South Carolina drivers will be able to show their faith with "I Believe" license tags, the state would close a tuition program that locks in college costs and retiree's pension funds can't be invested in Sudan.

Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed just six of 41 bills sent to him last week, signing the rest or allowing them to become law without his signature. He sent the bills to clerks of the House and Senate just before midnight Wednesday.

They new laws include a bill that allows people to buy license tags with a cross and a stained glass window and the words "I Believe" on them.

Sanford allowed that bill to become law without his signature, noting the state already has a process to allow special licenses for about any cause as long as enough people come together and put up the money needed to buy them.

He used the occasion and a letter to the Senate's leaders to offer a sermon of sorts.

"While I do, in fact, 'believe' -- it is my personal view that the largest proclamation of one's faith ought to be in how one lives one's life. Galatians talks of the fruit of the spirit as peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and more -- and, accordingly, if God is working in one's life, these things will say what no license plate will ever say," Sanford wrote.

In another bill, South Carolina joins half the nation in prohibiting its state retirement system from investing in companies with ties to the government in Sudan, which has been criticized over the conflict in the nation's Darfur region. South Carolina does not currently own stock in companies linked to the conflict in Darfur.

Sponsoring Sen. Joel Lourie says the measure sends a "clear and strong message of outrage about the atrocities taking place in Sudan."

Jo Read, a spokeswoman for the Darfur Action Group of South Carolina , says South Carolina is the first state to act preemptively.

Sanford let that bill become law without his signature, noting that the state administratively barred Sudan investments and a law was not needed.

Sanford vetoed bills setting up a push for nurses in critical needs areas; truth in food labeling; requiring high schools to have defibrillators and requirements for so-called fire-safe cigarettes that put themselves out if left to smolder.

A bill closing a state tuition prepayment program also became law without Sanford's signature.

The program has been losing money for years because legislators never expected college tuition rates to rise as fast as they have. The program currently lets parents lock in current tuition rates by setting up accounts with the state.

The legislation says no new participants will be allowed until the Legislature approves them. Current participants will continue to have their tuition locked in, but colleges won't be able to pass along tuition increases of more than 7 percent a year to the state.

The governor "felt it did more good than harm," because the program was losing money and the governor has long supported tuition caps. But Sanford was also worried that the caps in the bill may leave colleges shifting tuition costs to other students.

Other bills becoming law include:

-- The elimination of the state's PACT test for grade-school students. Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said Sanford let that become law without his signature because not much would change. "Meet the new test, same as the old test," Sawyer said. State Education Superintendent wanted a different law and "should be given a chance to deliver on the reforms he's asked for."

-- Adding a new assistant adjutant general to the top tier of the National Guard. The governor would appoint the new brigadier general.

-- People stealing metal, including copper from air condition units, could face up to 10 years in prison and metal dealers would have to get copies of IDs and record license tag information from people selling them certain metals.

-- Veterans would have to live in the state for just five years instead of 20 to qualify for a plot in one of the state's veterans' cemeteries.

-- Police agencies that hire rookies after other agencies have trained them would have reimburse the rookie's old agency for some or all of those costs during their first two years on the job.

Earlier Wednesday, Sanford signed into law a bill setting penalties for employers hiring illegal immigrants.