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 studying them.
The bill directs UConn to analyze the “benefits of establishing a state center for the study of unidentified aerial phenomena” and determine the staffing and resources required to operate such a center. It also instructs the university to consult with multiple state agencies — including the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Office of Military Affairs — and review relevant data collected by those agencies.
The report would be due to lawmakers by July 1, 2027.
In short, the legislature is exploring the creation of a taxpayer-funded UFO research program.
The Cost Question
Supporters argue the study could provide scientific insight into unexplained aerial activity. But even the university tasked with conducting the research has made clear that it would not come without cost.
In written testimony to the Appropriations Committee, UConn Assistant Dean Kylene Perras stated that a meaningful study would require dedicated funding rather than being absorbed within existing university operations.
According to UConn’s estimates, a limited project involving one faculty researcher and graduate assistants would cost approximately $150,000. A broader research effort involving multiple faculty members could reach roughly $300,000.
The university also noted it is operating under “significant financial constraints,” warning that an unfunded mandate could divert resources from other academic priorities.
In other words, if lawmakers want a UFO study, taxpayers will likely be footing the bill.
A Data Problem
The proposal may also face practical limitations.
In testimony submitted to the committee, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell Higgins raised concerns about the bill’s requirement that agencies share data with university researchers.
Much of the department’s information is sensitive and restricted to law enforcement or authorized entities due to public safety and national security considerations. Higgins indicated that existing confidentiality and security rules could prevent the university from accessing certain data the bill assumes will be available.
The agency requested that lawmakers remove the data-sharing requirement to avoid conflicts with current law.
A Question of Priorities
Connecticut lawmakers are currently debating how to manage rising electricity rates, housing shortages, and tens of billions in long-term pension obligations.
Against that backdrop, the Appropriations Committee is now reviewing whether to commit public funds to a study of unidentified aerial phenomena.
The bill itself does not explicitly appropriate funding. But the cost estimates provided by UConn suggest that conducting the study would require a six-figure expenditure.
That raises a straightforward question: At a time when lawmakers frequently cite limited resources for core priorities, is a state-funded UFO study the best use of taxpayer dollars?
For now, H.B. 5422 remains under review. Whether it advances may ultimately say as much about legislative priorities as it does about unidentified objects in the sky.
