Vermont Introduces First State UFO Task Force Bill

Vermont has introduced what may be the most structured state-level UFO legislation in the country. Representative Troy Hedrick of Burlington filed House Bill 654, which would establish a 10-member Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force co-chaired by the Department of Public Safety and the Agency of Transportation.

The panel would include representatives from the Vermont National Guard, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, aviation experts, radar and sensor specialists, and a representative from the Vermont Intelligence Center. The bill covers both aerial and underwater objects, and specifically defines UAP using physics-based language, referencing instantaneous acceleration without visible inertia and hypersonic speeds without heat signatures or sonic booms.

According to data from the National UFO Reporting Center, Vermont consistently ranks as the number one or number two state in the country for UAP sightings per capita, with roughly 88 sightings per 100,000 residents. As reported by Seven Days Vermont in January 2026, residents in late 2024 reported seeing unexplained lights in the night sky above their homes. The state also hosts the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard at Burlington International Airport and shares a border with Canada, adding practical airspace safety concerns to the conversation.

Credits: Business Insider

In an appearance on NewsNation’s Reality Check with Ross Coulthart, Hedrick revealed that former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, a retired rear admiral, (possibly being Tim Gallaudet) and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Christopher Mellon have all indicated willingness to testify before the Vermont House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. Hedrick also made a notable statement about UAP data, saying on camera that programs collecting this information share it with private defense contractors rather than the government. He called this a problem. That claim aligns with testimony given under oath by whistleblower David Grusch before the House Oversight Committee in July 2023.

The bill names the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies as the principal scientific analyst for the task force. As noted in analysis sent to me by Cecil Webb, this partnership structure preserves government oversight while bringing in external scientific expertise. The bill includes a confidential reporting system, a public webpage, and requires annual reports to the Governor and legislative committees by December 15th each year. If passed, the task force would become operational July 1, 2026. The Vermont legislative session runs January through May, so the window for this bill to advance is open now.

Sources

McCallum, K., & McCallum, K. (2026, January 25). Vermont Lawmaker Proposes Establishing a UFO Panel. Seven Days. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/vermont-lawmaker-proposes-establishing-a-ufo-panel/

NewsNation. (2026a, January 20). UAP task force proposed in Vermont | Jesse Weber Live [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06MvdGF2CnY

NewsNation. (2026b, February 10). Government transparency on UAPs: Inside the growing push | Reality Check [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd1kY9J-Fcw

VT — H0654. (n.d.). BillTrack50. https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1926712