Georgia CommonsHB 77: Motor vehicles; encountering funeral procession on two-lane highway; revise responsibilities
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Tabled
A Georgia Senate substitute for HB 77 would require drivers to pull over and stop for police-led funeral processions on two-lane highways, and updates the legal definition of a funeral procession.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-76) already gives funeral processions the right of way and bars other drivers from cutting into them or passing them on two-lane highways, but it does not spell out exactly how a driver who meets one should behave. This bill rewrites that Code section. It tightens the definition of a funeral procession to require every vehicle in it to have headlights on and either a lead vehicle with funeral home signage or a law enforcement escort. It adds a new rule specifically for two-lane highways: when a procession is led by a police or sheriff's vehicle and the lead and rear vehicles show flashing hazard lights, other drivers must pull over to the right edge of the road, stop clear of any intersection, and stay stopped until the procession passes. Commercial vehicle drivers are excused if following the rule would be unsafe or violate other laws. Violations remain a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100.
What the bill does
- Redefines a funeral procession to require illuminated headlights on every participating vehicle plus either a marked lead vehicle or a law enforcement escort vehicle.
- Adds a new rule requiring drivers on two-lane highways to pull to the right edge, stop clear of intersections, and remain stopped for law enforcement-led funeral processions showing flashing hazard lights.
- Exempts commercial vehicle operators from the pull-over rule if complying would be unsafe or would violate federal, state, or local law.
- Reorganizes existing bans on interrupting a procession, joining it to gain right of way, or passing it on a two-lane highway into a single renumbered subsection.
- Keeps the misdemeanor penalty for violations at a fine not exceeding $100.
- Preserves legal immunity for law enforcement officers directing or escorting funeral processions.
Who it affects
Drivers who encounter funeral processions on Georgia roads, especially two-lane highways; funeral homes and their escort vehicles; local law enforcement agencies that escort processions; commercial truck drivers, who get a specific safety exemption; and local governments that provide paid escort services.
Why it matters
Drivers on two-lane highways would face a clear, specific duty to pull over and stop for police-escorted funeral processions with hazard lights on, rather than a vaguer ban on passing. This could reduce confusion and roadway conflicts, while commercial drivers get protection from being forced into unsafe maneuvers.
Key provisions
- Subsection (a) redefines 'funeral procession' to require headlights on all participating vehicles and either funeral home signage on the lead vehicle or a law enforcement escort.
- Subsection (c) gives right of way on any highway to processions led by a state or local law enforcement vehicle.
- New subsection (f) requires drivers on two-lane highways to yield, pull to the right edge clear of intersections, and stop until a law enforcement-escorted procession with flashing hazard lights has passed.
- Subsection (f) exempts commercial motor vehicle operators from this pull-over duty if it would be unsafe or unlawful.
- Subsection (g) sets the penalty for violating the section at a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $100.00.
- Subsection (h) preserves liability immunity for law enforcement officers directing or escorting funeral processions.
From the bill
“the operator of a vehicle not participating in such funeral procession shall, except when otherwise directed by a traffic officer, yield the right of way and drive to a position parallel to, and as close as safe and practicable to, the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, clear of any intersection, and stop and remain in such position until the funeral procession has passed.”
“The provisions of this subsection shall not require the operator of a commercial motor vehicle not participating in such funeral procession to act in a manner which is contrary to the safe operation of the commercial motor vehicle”
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
Show full history (14 actions)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)
- Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
- Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)
- Gary Richardson (R, HD-125)
- John Corbett (R, HD-174)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2025
171 yea, 2 nay (4 not voting, 3 absent)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)
Topics
- traffic laws
- funeral processions
- two-lane highways
- driver responsibilities
- commercial trucking