State Rep. Joe Hoxha, R‑Bristol, introduced H.B. 5422 on Thursday, calling on the University of Connecticut to team with state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The bill, co‑sponsored by Democrat Rep. Aundre Bumgardner of Groton, aims to create a state‑run center to record, analyze and collect data on UAP sightings in Connecticut skies. Lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee heard testimony from residents and experts, including Yale PhD student Sri Tata, while Rep. Martin Foncello referenced a Department of Defense colleague working on UAP investigations. Connecticut joins New Jersey, which enacted a similar UAP research law last year that took effect in January.
Hoxha, a longtime UFO enthusiast, said the proposal would help “aggregate the decentralized information ecosystem” that currently exists for UAPs. “The topic is finally starting to be taken seriously, starting with the federal government,” he told the Connecticut Mirror. Bumgardner, whose district builds submarines for the U.S. Navy, added, “We should know if it’s coming from one of our adversaries.”
The New Jersey legislation, passed in 2025, established a collaborative research center with higher‑education institutions and became operational in January. Tata argued that a similar effort in Connecticut would support scientific inquiry, public‑policy formulation and cross‑border reporting mechanisms. Foncello said he knows a colleague who investigates UAPs for the DoD and expressed interest in working with Tata on further development of the bill.
UAP sightings have been reported by pilots and military personnel, prompting federal action. Congress held a hearing on UAPs in May 2022, and the Defense Department created the All‑domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in July 2022. AARO’s 2024 report found no evidence of alien technology in any sightings, underscoring the emphasis on objective, scientific investigation rather than speculation.
If passed, H.B. 5422 would allocate state resources to a systematic study of aerial anomalies, a move Hoxha argues is “light‑years more important” than earmarking funds for festivals or hobbyist projects. The proposal reflects a growing trend among state legislatures to address unexplained aerial phenomena with formal research programs, balancing curiosity, national‑security concerns and public‑policy transparency.