Oregon is about to ring in the new year with more than a dozen new laws, from protections for whistleblowers and wildlife, to guidelines for handling someone's social media accounts after death.

Lawmakers met in Salem for only a monthlong session this year, so the list of new laws is shorter than it would be in an odd-numbered year, when the Legislature convenes full-length sessions that are limited to 160 days.

And the vast majority of bills passed this year -- 106 out of 124 -- have already taken effect. That's because lawmakers tacked emergency clauses onto most of the measures, allowing them to become law as soon as Gov. Kate Brown signed them.

As a result, this year's most far-reaching and controversial laws, such as the minimum wage increase and anti-coal bill, took effect days after lawmakers went home. Some people have criticized the Legislature's use of the clauses and even attempted to get an initiative to curtail them on the November ballot, but that effort failed.

Still, there are plenty of changes coming up that Oregonians will feel in their daily lives. Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting new laws taking effect on Jan. 1:

Medical marijuana for vets: Certain disabled military veterans will no longer have to undergo annual medical examinations to renew their medical marijuana cards.

E-fare transit: TriMet and other Oregon transit systems that adopt cash-free electronic fare systems can keep the unused balances on accounts, instead of sending the money to the state as is normally required under unclaimed property law.

Social media after death: People such as trustees, who distribute your assets after you die, will now have limited access to digital assets such as social media accounts. State law also will make clear that if you recorded with a social media website or other company how you want that entity to handle your data, those directions trump other documents such as your will.

Criminal impersonation: It will be a misdemeanor to impersonate someone in order to intimidate, harass or physically harm them. The Oregon Department of Justice cited cases of cyber impersonation, including a man in California who posted an ad on Craigslist inviting men to assault his ex-girlfriend.

Independent Party: The Independent Party of Oregon stood to lose its major party status and state-funded primaries amid the flood of automatically registered voters this year. But lawmakers gave parties until after November 2018 to register enough members to hold onto major party status.

Sex crimes prosecutions: Prosecutors will no longer face a 12-year statute of limitations on rape and other first-degree sex crime cases, if they're able to obtain certain types of new evidence to corroborate the crime.

Wildlife poaching: Poachers will face tougher penalties starting in 2017, and if you're convicted of breaking wildlife laws three times in 10 years, a judge will now order the seizure of your guns, boat, or anything else you used to commit that crime.

Cutting brewery red tape: A new, expanded license will allow breweries to also sell wine and liquor onsite and hold special events, while continuing to distribute beer.

Whistleblower protections: The new law will protect government and certain nonprofit employees who share information on potential corruption, fraud or abuse with lawmakers, other government officials and law enforcement.

Sex trafficking: Pimps and sex traffickers can no longer use a loophole in state law to avoid prosecution by accepting drugs or other goods and services as payment.

Immigration "notarios": In Oregon, only lawyers can act as immigration consultants. The new law makes it a crime for people often referred to as "notarios" to provide these services, if they're not members of the Oregon State Bar.

Sky lanterns: No more celebrating the holidays or special ceremonies with sky lanterns starting Jan. 1. As Oregon firefighters battle increasingly severe wildfires, state lawmakers outlawed the miniature hot air balloons, and people who violate the ban face as much as $2,000 in fines.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud