SESSION OF 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2107
As Amended by House Committee on
Transportation

Brief*
HB 2107 would require all pedestrians and vehicle
operators to yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that is part of
a funeral procession being led by a funeral lead vehicle or
accompanied by a funeral escort, notwithstanding any state
law or local ordinance relating to traffic control devices or
right-of-way provisions. The bill would create a $20 fine for
failure to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession.
The bill would define “funeral procession,” “funeral lead
vehicle,” and “funeral escort.”
The bill would permit vehicles in a funeral procession to
follow a funeral lead vehicle through an intersection
regardless of traffic control devices or any right-of-way
provision in state law, city ordinance, or county resolution if
the funeral lead vehicle lawfully entered the intersection
through a traffic control device or at the direction of law
enforcement.
The bill would state funeral processions have the right-
of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices if
operators of vehicles in the funeral procession:
● Yield the right-of-way to approaching authorized
emergency vehicles;
● Yield the right-of-way when directed by a police
officer; and
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
 ● Exercise due care when participating in the funeral
procession to avoid colliding with any other vehicle
or pedestrian.
The bill would state the operator of a vehicle in a funeral
procession would not have the right-of-way if such vehicle is
more than 300 feet behind the immediately preceding vehicle
in such procession.
The bill would require all vehicles in a funeral procession
to follow the preceding vehicle in the procession as closely as
is safe and practical. The bill would exempt vehicles in a
funeral procession from any state law, city ordinance, or
county resolution prohibiting a vehicle from following another
vehicle too closely.
The bill would require each vehicle in a funeral
procession to have lighted the vehicle’s headlights (high
beam or low beam) and taillights and would permit flashing
hazard lights.
The bill would state a city or county could require a law
enforcement or non-law enforcement funeral lead vehicle or
funeral escort for a funeral procession. The bill would allow
cities or counties to require prior notice of any planned funeral
procession be given to the city police department or county
sheriff. The bill would further state none of its provisions
would prohibit cities or counties from requiring compliance
with any city ordinance or county resolution not in conflict with
the bill.
The bill would add these provisions to the Uniform Act
Regulating Traffic on Highways.
The bill would also make technical amendments.

Background
The bill was introduced by Representative Collins.
2- 2107
 [Note: HB 2107 contains provisions similar to those of
2020 HB 2608, as amended by the House Committee.]
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, Representative
Collins, Senator Pittman, and a representative of the Kansas
Funeral Directors Association provided proponent testimony,
indicating the bill would be an important safety measure to
formally recognize and clarify the right-of-way privileges of
funeral processions. A representative of the Kansas
Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Peace Officers
Association, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association and a
representative of the League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM)
provided written-only proponent testimony.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to modify the
definition of “funeral escort” and make technical changes.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Office of Judicial Administration
(Office) indicates enactment of the bill has the potential to
increase litigation in the courts, because it would create a
new violation. The Office indicates increased litigation
resulting from enactment of the bill could have a fiscal effect
on the court system, but it is unable to estimate the fiscal
effect. The Kansas Department of Transportation indicates
enactment of the bill could increase revenues generated from
new traffic infraction fines, but it does not have enough
information to estimate a fiscal effect on the agency. The
Kansas Association of Counties and LKM state enactment of
the bill would have a negligible fiscal effect for local
governments. Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not
reflected in The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget Report.
Funeral procession; funeral escort; right-of-way; traffic safety; failure to yield

3- 2107


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 8-2118, 8-1556, 8-2118c
As Amended by House Committee: 8-2118, 8-1556, 8-2118c