New Hampshire legislators will move one step closer to snatching the towns of Kittery and Berwick and the Piscataqua River from the clutches of Maine this week. The State Federal Affairs and Veterans Relations Committee will meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday to discuss Rep. Dick Marple's (R-Hooksett) bill that would call for the state to recognize that Kittery and Berwick, along with the entire Piscataqua River, are within the boundaries of the state. Marple said historical records from the sixth and 17th United States Congress, which annexed the towns to New Hampshire, support his position.

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, the Transportation Committee will gather in room 203 at 9 a.m. to look at HB165, which prohibits youth operators from using cell phones while driving.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Committee will meet in room 302 at 10 a.m. to discuss HB167, which requires merchants to immediately honor mail-in rebates at the time of sale. Under the bill, proposed by Rep. Mike Scanlon (R-Bedford), retailers would offer products at the sale price and would later be reimbursed the rebate amount by manufacturers. Scanlon said he drafted the bill because of confusion that can arise over retailer advertisements. Some ads list the price after rebate while some list the price before rebate.

"If something's advertised for $10, I want to walk in, hand them $10 and walk out with the product," he said.

Health care watchers might want to attend the GraniteCare subcommittee meeting at 10 a.m. in room 205.

Later that day, the Executive Departments and Administration Committee will look at a bill that would permit state agencies to hire collection agencies to collect debts owed to the state.

On Thursday, Jan. 20, the Fish and Game Committee will meet in room 307 to talk about HB140, which prohibits the use of drugs, poisons and tranquilizers in hunting.

Meetings are open to the public. For a full list of legislative meetings this week, check out the Legislature's Web site at www.gencourt.state.nh.us.