Connecticut Advances Bipartisan Bill to Establish a UConn-Led State UAP Research Program

To the point

Connecticut's HB 5422 would have UConn lead a state UAP research program with DESPP, DEEP, and the Office of Military Affairs, fund a $300,000 pilot (with $150,000 for a primary researcher and equipment and $150,000 for additional faculty), and draw support from Yale PhD student Sri Tata and Democrat co-sponsor Aundre Bumgardner, as Republican Joe Hoxha introduces the bill and Republican Martin Foncello signals interest, while opponents warn about misallocated funds and data-sharing risks, and if enacted Connecticut would become the second state after New Jersey, which began in January 2026 following a 2025 law prompted by the late-2024 drone wave, with Vermont also proposing a government UFO task force.