Vermont H 654: An act relating to extending COVID-19 health care regulatory flexibility

Bill Text

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H.654 1
Introduced by Representative Headrick of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Internal security and public safety; aeronautics and surface 5
transportation; airspace; Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified 6
Anomalous Phenomena Task Force 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the 8
Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force 9
to evaluate reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, assess airspace and 10
public safety risks, coordinate with academic institutions and federal agencies, 11
and develop recommendations to improve incident reporting, response, and 12
analysis. 13
An act relating to Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous 14
Phenomena Task Force 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. FINDINGS 17
The General Assembly finds: 18
(1) The federal government has formally acknowledged the existence of 19
unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and has established the All-Domain 20

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Anomaly Resolution Office within the U.S. Department of Defense to 1
coordinate federal investigation and oversight of UAP-related reports. 2
(2) In 2023, the U.S. Congress enacted the Unidentified Anomalous 3
Phenomena Disclosure Act as an amendment to the National Defense 4
Authorization Act, establishing requirements for transparency, centralized 5
records management, and standardized federal investigation of UAP. The 6
amendment was a bipartisan effort led by Senators Charles E. Schumer, 7
Michael D. Rounds, Marco Rubio, and Kirsten E. Gillibrand. 8
(3) Independent research organizations have developed expertise in the 9
scientific investigation of UAP. The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, a 10
nonprofit interdisciplinary research organization composed of scientists, 11
engineers, law enforcement, and former military and intelligence professionals, 12
has conducted peer-reviewed analyses and collaborates with academic 13
institutions and government partners to advance scientific understanding of 14
UAP. 15
(4) Vermont has experienced recent public reports of unidentified aerial 16
objects that have required law enforcement response, including low-altitude 17
drone-like sightings and aircraft safety concerns. These incidents underscore 18
the need for a coordinated State-led mechanism to assess and respond to 19
airspace hazards. 20

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Sec. 2. 5 V.S.A. chapter 9, subchapter 3 is added to read: 1
Subchapter 3. Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous 2
Phenomena Task Force 3
§ 241. VERMONT AIRSPACE SAFETY AND UNIDENTIFIED 4
ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA TASK FORCE 5
(a) Definitions. As used in this section: 6
(1) “SCU” means the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies. 7
(2) “Unidentified anomalous phenomena” means any object operating in 8
the atmosphere or underwater that cannot be readily attributed to a known or 9
conventional source, including unknown aircraft, drones, or other anomalous 10
objects exhibiting performance characteristics not consistent with currently 11
understood technologies, such as instantaneous acceleration absent observable 12
inertia or hypersonic velocity without a corresponding thermal signature or 13
sonic boom. 14
(b) Creation. There is created within the Department of Public Safety the 15
Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task 16
Force. The Task Force shall coordinate its work jointly through the 17
Department of Public Safety and the Agency of Transportation and may 18
engage independent experts to support its charge. 19
(c) Purpose. The purpose of the Task Force is to: 20

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(1) evaluate reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, including 1
drones, balloons, and objects exhibiting anomalous behavior that cannot be 2
readily identified as weather phenomena, commercial products, or 3
conventional technologies legally operating in Vermont airspace; 4
(2) assess airspace and public safety risks; 5
(3) coordinate Vermont’s response with federal, academic, and private 6
sector partners; and 7
(4) develop recommendations to improve incident reporting, emergency 8
response, transparency, and scientific analysis. 9
(d) Membership. The Task Force shall be composed of the following 10 10
members: 11
(1) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee, who shall serve as 12
Co-Chair; 13
(2) the Secretary of Transportation or designee, who shall serve as Co-14
Chair; 15
(3) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the 16
Speaker of the House; 17
(4) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Committee on 18
Committees; 19
(5) a representative of the Vermont National Guard, appointed by the 20
Adjutant General; 21

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