Connecticut’s legislature is considering a bill that would make it the second U.S. state to fund dedicated UAP research, after New Jersey established the nation’s first state-funded UAP research centre in 2025.
The Bill
HB 5422, introduced by Rep. Joe Hoxha (R-Bristol), directs the University of Connecticut to study the feasibility of creating a state centre for unidentified aerial phenomena. The study would require UConn researchers to collaborate with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Military Affairs, and a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the investigation of UFO sightings. A report would be due to the General Assembly by 1 July 2027.
UConn’s Response
Kylene Perras, Assistant Dean of Operations at UConn’s College of Engineering, testified before the Appropriations Committee on 12 March 2026 that the university is “willing and well-positioned” to conduct the study. Perras requested $300,000 to establish a pilot programme, citing UConn’s engineering and research capabilities as suited to a rigorous, data-driven examination of UAP.
Sri Tata, a PhD student at Yale, also testified in support. He pointed to the New Jersey drone wave of late 2024 as a catalyst for renewed academic interest, noting that faculty and students across institutions are engaging with the topic.
State-Level Momentum
The Connecticut bill reflects a broader shift. While Congress has driven most UAP transparency efforts at the federal level through oversight hearings and legislation, state legislatures are now acting independently on airspace safety and research funding. New Jersey’s programme was the first. Vermont has considered similar measures. Connecticut’s bill frames UAP not as a fringe curiosity but as a matter of operational safety and domain awareness for first responders.
What the Bill Does Not Do
HB 5422 is a feasibility study, not the creation of an operational centre. If the study concludes a centre is warranted, separate legislation and funding would follow. The $300,000 request covers the study phase only.
The bill has cleared its initial committee hearing. No floor vote has been scheduled as of this writing.