Senator Kemp Hannon is hosting a set of seminars at local libraries in February, called "Connecting Seniors to Services." Each program will focus on a variety of services available to homebound seniors and Medicare Part D.

"I encourage my constituents to attend one of the three seminars 'connecting seniors to services' and learn important information that will allow you and/or family members to stay in your home as long as you want," Senator Hannon said.

Each program will feature: questions and answers on Medicare Part D, led by the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP); home care information from the Visiting Nurse Services of New York and the Family and Children's Association on Senior Community Services.

The seminars will be held at Farmingdale Library (116 Merritts Road) Thursday, Feb. 2, 1-3 p.m.; Massapequa Park Library (40 Harbor Lane) Thursday, Feb. 9, 1-3 p.m.; and Plainedge Library (1060 Hicksville Road) Friday, Feb. 10, 1-3 p.m. Reservations are necessary. To RSVP or obtain more information, call Senator Hannon's community office at 739-1700.

Senator Kemp Hannon announces new state laws that come with the New Year. The following took effect Jan. 1, 2006:

A tax reduction will save New York taxpayers nearly $1 billion. The tax rate for taxpayers with incomes between $150,000 and $500,000 will be decreased from 7.25 percent to 6.85 percent. Similarly, the tax rate for taxpayers with incomes over $500,000 will be decreased from 7.7 percent to 6.85 percent.

A new law curtails lobbying for government contracts, discloses more information about lobbying, provides new penalties for violations of the lobbying law and establishes an Advisory Council on Municipal Lobbying to advise the state lobby commission on the implementation of the new procurement lobbying provisions.

A new law bases a business' state tax solely on sales. Under the old law, 50 percent of a business's tax bill was based on sales while 25 percent was based on payroll and 25 percent was based on property holdings. Therefore, the old law encouraged job outsourcing. The change is expected to save New York businesses $26 million in 2006 and $130 million after it is fully phased in over three years.

A law to bring New York into compliance with the Help America Vote act (HAVA) requires voters to provide their driver's license number, or the last four digits of their social security number when registering to vote. Also, voters who registered by mail will have to produce evidence of their identity before voting. The state's minimum wage rose to $6.75 an hour, up from $6. Next Jan. 1, New York's minimum wage will go to $7.15 an hour. The minimum age for operating a personal watercraft has been raised to 14, from 10.