New laws that go into effect for 2011

Starting Friday, seniors on Medicare will get free wellness visits, and it'll be illegal to transplant invasive Japanese honeysuckle in Nassau County.

Later in the year, some vending machines will have to show calorie counts on certain items; bank loan officers will have to register in a public, nationwide database; and Suffolk animal abusers will have to report to a new public registry. Here are some of the changes ahead:

Nationally

Tracking lenders. Loan officers in federally chartered institutions, which include the major banks, must register in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System as of Jan. 31 so consumers can track their records.

Flexible spending is less. Over-the-counter drugs won't be covered by flexible spending accounts unless prescribed.

Snack stats. Companies with more than 20 vending machines must post calorie counts on certain items after March 23.

More take-home pay. Social Security tax drops from 6.2 percent of wages to 4.2 percent.

Help in the "donut hole." Medicare beneficiaries in the drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole" get a 50 percent discount on brand-name medications.

Healthy seniors. Those on Medicare will get some free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits.

 New York State

More lenient bankruptcy. As of Jan. 22, filers can take up to $150,000 in home equity exemption, instead of $50,000.

Clearer rebate rules. Businesses must conspicuously disclose whether they're cash, credit for future purchase or some other form, along with fees.

Road safety. Highway motorists must put one lane between themselves and parked police and emergency vehicles with lights flashing. On all roads, they must slow down.

In Nassau

More illegal plants. Introducing certain invasive plants into local waters or storm drains is already illegal. New to the list is moneywort, yam-leaf clematis and Japanese honeysuckle.

Seeking tax breaks. Commercial property owners challenging tax assessments must submit certified appraisal or make a "reasonable" settlement offer by Oct. 1 of the year the grievance was filed.

Vets benefits. Cold War veterans can get up to 15 percent off the assessed value on residential properties, capped at $54,000, or $180,000 for those with service-related disabilities.

 In Suffolk

Break at the pump. As of March 1, the county's 4.25 percent gasoline tax won't be charged on the portion that exceeds $3 per gallon.

Animal abusers. Convicted adults must file addresses and photos in a public registry for five years. Effective May 23.

Pesticide warning. People in areas to be sprayed with pesticides to control mosquitoes can request robocall or automatic text warnings.

Gun offenders. Residents convicted after March 17 must report aliases, job address and more to a gun-offender registry.