While Kaprielian said that she could not offer a definite prognosis for the bill, given the fickle nature of the legislative process, she said that early signs are quite favorable for its success.

“The bill is moving at a very healthy clip,” Kaprielian said. “I’m pushing for it and it’s been very well received [by fellow legislators].”

Harvard’s Senior Director of Federal and State Relations Kevin Casey said that this piece of legislation is the most important to Harvard currently before the legislature. He agreed that many members of the legislature have indicated that they are favorably disposed to the bill.

However Harvard is making efforts to derail the legislation.

Casey, who is leading the efforts against the bill, said that the University is using two strategies to try to defeat the legislation.

The first is to demonstrate to legislators that the University is making genuine efforts to work with Watertown in solving the dispute over the Arsenal.

As part of this effort, Kathy A. Spiegelman, University associate vice president and director of Harvard Planning and Real Estate, sent a letter on June 12 to Watertown’s City Manager Michael J. Driscoll containing a written proposal for an agreement between the city and University. The University’s original proposals for an agreement had only been communicated orally.