ALBANY — Race horses will get a break from steroids, more consumers could start billing utility companies for surplus power, and New Yorkers will be able to vote with their hearts starting in 2009.

Two dozen new laws taking effect Thursday will touch New Yorkers in many ways, though there are no major crime measures or taxes among them.

The utility law allows more residents and farmers to send surplus energy produced by wind, solar or other onsite power generating systems to utilities for sale to other customers.

If a customer sends more power than they use in a year, the utility pays them for the balance.

Turning the tables on utilities also cuts emissions from power plants by requiring less energy to be generated.

“The passage of these bills is good news for the environment and just as important, for those individuals, farms and businesses looking for an alternative approach to lowering their energy bills,” said Sen. George Maziarz, a Niagara County Republican.

Another measure restricts the use of certain anabolic steroids on thoroughbred and harness racing horses. The law restricts the use of four steroids approved by the federal government for therapeutic use on animals. The state law allows using only one of the steroids — often used to help an animal heal from injury — at any one time. The permissible level of each steroid was also reduced.

The steroids are stanozolol, boldenone and nandrolone.

“We have served notice that there will be no grace period when this rule goes into effect on New Year’s Day,” said state Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John Sabini. “Let there be no doubt we mean business.”

New York’s newest laws include:

Registration for the state Donate Life Registry for organ and tissue donations to be included on voter enrollment forms.

Requiring lights for slow-moving vehicles such as tractors and other farm equipment that must be used from a half-hour before sunset to a half-hour after sunrise and during other periods of “low visibility.”

A consumer bill of rights that set up rules for tax preparers and requires the state to distribute a flyer informing consumers of their legal protections when hiring tax preparers.