US EditionShould Connecticut Study UFOs? State Rep. Asks Legislature to Hear Him Out
The bill would have UConn assess benefits and costs of a state center for unidentified aerial phenomena, with a report due by July 1, 2027, amid concerns about budget and data access.
- On March 12, the Appropriations Committee reviewed H.B. 5422, which would require UConn to study UAPs and deliver a report by July 1, 2027.
- Amid growing calls, Hoxha said a dedicated program could record, study and collect UAP data, with bipartisan backing from Bumgardner, who cited security reasons.
- Funding estimates range from $150,000 for a limited project to roughly $300,000 for broader effort, with University of Connecticut warning a meaningful study requires dedicated funds amid budget constraints.
- Legal and confidentiality limits mean some agency records may be inaccessible to non-law-enforcement researchers, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins said, urging removal of the bill's data-sharing mandate.
- National-Level attention to UAPs grew after a 2022 congressional hearing and the DoD's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office was established, while critics question if a state-funded study best serves competing priorities.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Associated Press News
Should Connecticut study UFOs? State Rep. asks legislature to hear him out
The truth is out there, and state Rep. Joe Hoxha, R-Bristol, wants to find it. Hoxha authored a bill, H.B. 5422, that calls for the University of Connecticut to partner with various state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs — the technical term for UFOs — and explore the potential benefits of establishing a “state center” for further research.
UConn official requests $300,000 for UFO study
Connecticut’s legislative Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on a bill directing UConn to “conduct a study of unidentified aerial phenomena,” (UAP), also known as UFOs, and testimony included a request from a UConn official for $300,000 to complete the work that would be required by the law. If passed, HB 5422, or An Act Concerning a Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, would require UConn researchers to collaborate with officials…
Should CT study UFOs? State Rep. asks legislature to hear him out
The truth is out there, and state Rep. Joe Hoxha, R-Bristol, wants to find it. Hoxha authored a bill, H.B. 5422, that calls for the University of Connecticut to partner with various state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs — the technical term for UFOs — and explore the potential benefits of establishing a “state center” for further research. On Thursday, lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee heard testimony from reside…
Connecticut Lawmakers Want Taxpayers to Fund A UFO Study
Connecticut lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require the state to study unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) — better known to most people as UFOs. Yes, really. H.B. 5422, currently before the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, would require the University of Connecticut to conduct a statewide study examining unexplained aerial sightings and to evaluate whether Connecticut should establish a government center dedicated to s…
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