Which Texas statute governs civil asset forfeiture in Texas as the primary statute?

• A. Texas Penal Code Chapter 71
• B. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 59
• C. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481
• D. Texas Transportation Code Chapter 521

Answer: (B)

Civil asset forfeiture in Texas is governed primarily by the Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 59. This chapter provides the civil process by which property—rather than a person—can be seized and forfeited when it is connected to criminal activity. It lays out how a forfeiture action is started in civil court, how interested parties are given notice, what kind of proof the state must present, and how the property is handled if the court grants forfeiture or if the owner challenges the claim. The other statutes mentioned govern different subject areas—crimes and penalties in the Penal Code, substances and related enforcement in the Health and Safety Code, and vehicle-related provisions in the Transportation Code—and are not the primary framework for civil forfeiture proceedings, even though they may intersect with forfeiture in specific cases.