Before you get too cocksure about 2010, it’s our duty to remind you that 40,697 new laws were enacted by state legislatures in 2009. Many went into effect while you were recovering from New Year’s Eve merriment.

That alone is a sobering thought for those of us who wish common sense, decency and mutual respect for one another would suffice. But such is not to be. Even so, some of these new laws must make even the most law-abiding of us shake our heads in bafflement.

For instance, in New Hampshire, a new state law will allow physical therapists to get legally certified to practice on animals if they take certain courses. That might rub Fido the right way, but who would have thought that would become a law?

In Texas, we understand the National Conference of State Legislatures regards as unique a new state law that requires landlords to install smoke detectors that alert hearing-impaired residents of fire. Such detectors — installed at tenants’ requests — we’re told, cast a mighty light that might well wake the dead and prompt others to think the Second Coming is at hand.

Texas also is one of 31 states with new laws pertaining to tanning beds: Teens younger than age 16 1/2 can no longer use one, and those between 16 1/2 and 18 must have permission from parents. Old laws allowed tanning from age 13 and up.

Incidentally, it seems tanning salons are fast replacing tobacco as a major health culprit. The U.S. Senate decided to slap a 10 percent tax on tanning beds after high-powered lobbyists for the American Medical Association, Botox manufacturers and cosmetic surgeons convinced Democrats to drop a proposed 5 percent tax on cosmetic surgery.

The tanning industry didn’t seem to have the same caliber of lobbyists, so the so-called “bo-tax” will be scuttled and replaced with the tanning bed tax, assuming it survives Senate-House negotiations this month where we can expect more lunacy in the way of federal laws.

In Texas, we do find some laws of merit, such as one mandating that appraisal districts take into account the sales value of surrounding foreclosed properties when assessing home values. Again, common sense deems that necessary, but not necessarily spelled out in a law.

Another new law makes Texas one of 49 states mandating the retail sale of fire-sale cigarettes, which fire officials say quickly go out if left unattended. Some smokers claim these cigarettes taste bad, give headaches and won’t allow them to be set on an ashtray for even a moment.

Sure, some of these laws make sense. Just the same, we’re glad our state Legislature meets only once every two years.