It's legislative endgame time this week as the New Hampshire House has 40 bills left to act on before they start voting on the Senate's batch of bills next week.

The last group of House bills will be considered on Wednesday, April 6. Among the bills up for vote that day are measures to give local municipalities more control over groundwater resources, an increase in the state's minimum wage, mandatory seatbelts and tighter controls on mercury emissions.

Rep. Harriet Cady (R-Deerfield) is the sponsor of House Bill 69, which gives towns veto power over large groundwater withdrawal permits issued by the Department of Environmental Services. The bill stemmed from concerns Nottingham residents have over a proposed bottled water plant that could move into town. USA Springs has been trying to build a plant in Nottingham for four years, but has faced strong challenges from Save Our Groundwater, a citizens group opposed to the plant. Cady said the bill made it out of committee with an overwhelming majority recommending it to pass, and she expects it to make it through the full House.

Also up for a vote that day is HB 371, which would ban the disposal of mercury-added products in landfills and solid waste transfer stations. Rep. James Phinizy (D-Acworth) sponsored the bill to help combat mercury pollution in the state, which he said affects not only the environment and public health but also state revenues. The state Department of Environmental Services has issued a fish consumption advisory due to mercury contamination found in the state's inland freshwater fish, which Phinizy said will deter people from fishing in the state. This is the second mercury-related bill to come out of the House this session. HB 562, which would prohibit the sale of products containing more than one gram of mercury, including lamps, switches and mercury thermometers, was passed by the House and is on its way to the Senate.

Two hotly contested bills will also be voted on that day. HB 665, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Keans (R-Rochester), would increase the state's minimum wage to $6.65 an hour during the next two years. The current minimum wage, adopted in 1997, is set at $5.15.

Legislators will also consider HB 705, which would require mandatory seatbelt use. The bill has gained strong support from the state Police Chiefs Association, but had a cool reception in the House Transportation Committee, which voted it inexpedient to legislate. Similar attempts to forge a mandatory seatbelt law have failed in the past, and it's expected HB 705 will meet a similar fate.

Meanwhile bills to give $100,000 to the Seacoast Shipyard Association and to establish an industrial hemp farming program in the state have passed through the House and are on their way to the Senate.

The money given to the Seacoast Shipyard Association through HB 401 would be used for lobbying and promotional efforts on behalf of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which may be on the government's list of military bases to be closed this year. The Department of Defense is scheduled to release the Base Realignment Closure list in mid-May. More than 2,000 New Hampshire residents are employed at the shipyard.

HB 55, sponsored by Rep. Derek Owen (D-Hopkinton), is the first pro-industrial hemp bill to gain House approval. Bills in support of industrial hemp have appeared before the state lawmakers five other times, but have faced strong objections from federal officials and members of the law enforcement community, Owen said. Detractors often don't see the difference between industrial hemp, which can be used to make rope, clothing, and other products, and marijuana.

"If you've ever smoked rope or cornstalks, you just don't get very far. It's a completely different crop; you don't grow it the same," he said.

For a full meeting schedule and the low-down on all voting results, visit the NH General Court's Web site: http://gencourt.state.nh.us.