Dozens more bills were signed into law by the Governor Thursday, many of them high-profile, such as budget legislation and a 50 percent increase in the alcohol tax. But most legislation signed during this third and final bill-signing ceremony had flown under the radar screen during Session, yet is much more likely to affect our daily lives.

For instance, we all take for granted that our telephone company will deliver a big phonebook to our house. HB529 changes that, allowing phone companies to require us to opt-in and request a print directory if we want one.

And, for those of us who struggle every time we put prescription drops in our eyes, then watch them dribble down our cheeks instead, we won't have to fight the insurance company or the pharmacist for an early refill. HB888 requires insurance to cover earlier refills for those who have difficulty administering their eye drops.

Once signed by the Governor, the earliest that a non-emergency bill may take effect is June 1. The usual effective date is Oct. 1. For a complete list of bills signed Thursday, click here. See below for a sampling of the new laws:

 

Ignition Interlock for Convicted Drunk Drivers. Called the Drunk Driving Reduction Act, HB1276 requires drunk drivers who far exceed the blood-alcohol limit to use ignition interlock devices on their cars. Those who decline breathalyzer tests also would be required to use the devices. Those who refuse would have their licenses revoked.

Protesters at Funerals Must Move Back. SB977 requires picketers at funerals, burials, memorial services or funeral processions to stand back at least 500 feet, further than the current 100-foot restriction.

Shorter Wait for Divorce. HB402 reduces from two years to 12 months the period of time the couple must live separately without interruption before filing for absolute divorce. It also repeals existing law concerning divorce on the grounds of voluntary separation.

Fire Departments Get Help in Collecting for Ambulance Services. HB 83 makes it easier for fire departments to collect for ambulance services. This law requires insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and nonprofit health service plans to directly reimburse certain ambulance service providers. Currently, the insurer pays the insured, and it is up to him to pay his ambulance bill.

 "Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment" Form. This uniform, statewide, down-loadable form will be developed under HB82. Health care facilities - which include assisted living programs, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, and nursing homes - are required to accept and update or complete the form as specified by the bill. A nursing home or assisted living program must, by April 1, 2012, complete the form for each current patient who was admitted prior to the bill's October 1, 2011 effective date.

Ban on Drivers Reading Text Messages. HB196 bans the reading of text messages by drivers in the travel portion of the roadway. A previous ban applied only to writing or sending text messages and applied to vehicles in motion.

Wine Sales at Farmers Markets. Under SB466, local wineries will be able to obtain 12 permits a year to sell bottled wine at farmers markets in Carroll County. Under the permits, the wineries also will be able to provide one-ounce samples and sell wine by the glass for on-premises consumption.

Umbilical cord blood transplant program. HB983 establishes a Cord Blood Transplant Program in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to provide funding, subject to the limitations of the State budget, to qualified medical institutions to establish or maintain a cord blood transplant program. Cord blood contains all of the normal elements of blood, but it is also rich in hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, similar to those found in bone marrow. Thus, cord blood can be used for transplantation as an alternative to bone marrow