Tourist Development, Dept. of - As enacted, creates a marketing division within the department to replace the tourism division; authorizes the department to enter into agreements with the department of transportation to assist with maintenance of welcome center facilities; creates a welcome centers division within the department to oversee such centers throughout the state; directs the commissioner of finance and administration to transfer from highway user taxes allocated to the highway fund an amount sufficient to support the annual appropriation for implementation and administration of all welcome centers in the state. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 22.

HB 1321 reorganizes Tennessee's tourism department by creating a marketing division to promote tourism investments and attractions, and a new welcome centers division to manage all state welcome centers. It requires the Department of Tourism (formerly "Tourist Development") to coordinate with the Department of Transportation on welcome center maintenance and directs the commissioner of finance to redirect highway user taxes to fund welcome center operations. This bill directly affects state tourism operations, welcome center staffing and maintenance, and shifts funding sources from highway maintenance to tourism infrastructure. The changes take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as confirmed by the bill's effective date of May 21, 2025.