AUGUSTA – Anyone inclined to try his luck at “water skipping” his snowmobile has run out of time in Maine.

The offbeat and dangerous practice of trying to speed across an open expanse of water becomes illegal Thursday on Maine’s public waterways. On the same day, owners of snowmobiles and motorboats that sink in lakes, ponds and rivers must remove them within 24 hours.

July 25 marks 90 days after the close of this year’s legislative session, the day scores of new laws take effect.

The laws run the gamut from Workers’ Compensation changes, which sparked heated debate, to a ban on aerial hunting.

Some laws took effect immediately, while others, such as a mandate that some children riding in cars be secured in booster seats, won’t take effect until later. The booster seat law kicks in Jan. 1.

One of the most notable new laws taking effect Thursday limits the right of people with Workers’ Compensation claims to cite prior out-of-state injuries. Debate over the new limits, which were sought by businesses to lower insurance costs, dominated the later stages of the 2002 session.

Another new law gets tougher on habitual offenders, who now face driver’s license suspensions of three years instead of one. Also, habitual offenders must wait 18 months instead of eight to request work-restricted driving privileges.

Stalking and domestic abuse victims get new protection through a law that will provide them with substitute mailing addresses to protect privacy.

Also, new efforts to prevent violence on school grounds begin. School boards must amend student codes of conduct so they include policies and procedures to address student threats of death or bodily harm.

A law known as the “Baby Moses” act, which outlines procedures for safely abandoning a baby, takes effect. It provides protection from prosecution to a person who delivers a child less than 31 days old to a police officer, medical services provider or a hospital staff member.

Thursday also marks a milestone for a Bath girl who fought to make it legal to solicit money to benefit law enforcement officers, agencies or associations, provided the person gets no financial gain. The law stems from Kelly Davis’ effort to raise money for bulletproof vests for police dogs.

An existing law barring convicts from possessing guns is expanded to include those found not criminally responsible by mental disease or defect.

Another new law expands Maine’s voter-approved medical marijuana law by increasing the amount of usable marijuana a patient may possess from 1.25 to 2.5 ounces. It also clarifies legal protections for patients and caregivers.

A series of laws going on the books upgrades the classification of crimes related to terrorism. A law that criminalizes bioterrorism also allows the state to take action to isolate the disease when a pathogen is introduced.

Small businesses and their employees have a better way of keeping their group insurance policies. The Maine Small Business Health Coverage Plan will provide health care coverage to small-business employers, including self-employed individuals and their employees and dependents. The plan operates under the supervision of a board of directors.

A separate law allows employers with 100 or fewer employees, and licensed hospitals located within a 40-mile radius to self-fund health insurance coverage, pending state reviews.

The state will seek a federal Medicaid waiver that could pump $34 million more, in federal matching money, into programs that help pay for drugs for the elderly and disabled.

A process begins Thursday that could bring asthmatics some relief in the future. The new law establishes an asthma prevention and control program, which is authorized to receive federal grant money.

Felons who have served time for a drug-related crime and are recovering from substance abuse now cannot be denied food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families if they are qualified.

Another new law bans an activity that is already banned in most other states and countries: aerial hunting. Hunters now face $500 fines for spotting game from aircraft and communicating their location to hunters on the ground.

One new law sets the stage for online voting. State election officials get the go-ahead to lay the groundwork for a statewide voter registry, which is intended to prevent voter fraud and create a system needed for voting via Internet by 2008.

And one law crosses into the realm of the eerie. Funeral directors who have been unable to dispose of cremated remains that are not retrieved by families now have a legal process to dispose of the ashes.