Georgia lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make lemon pepper the official chicken wing flavor of the state.
House Bill 1013 was filed in the Georgia State House by State Representative Eric Bell, who represents part of metro Atlanta. The proposal says the wing flavor is culturally significant to Georgia and highlights its roots in Atlanta food culture.
Bell said the measure is meant to recognize how widely the flavor has spread across the state. “Lemon pepper wings have become a staple of southern cuisine in Atlanta and across Georgia,” he said. “This is a lighthearted bill, but it carries real meaning. Lemon pepper wings are a fan favorite that bring people together across race, culture, class and community.”
Lawmakers cite Atlanta restaurants and pop culture
Bell also pointed to the role lemon pepper wings have played in Atlanta nightlife and music culture. “From ‘Lemon Pepper Lou’ at Magic City to lyrics in billboard hits from Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, lemon pepper wings have been central to many of the moments and individuals who have shaped this city and state,” he said. “Just like the peach represents our agricultural roots, lemon pepper wings represent Georgia’s cultural flavor and global influence.”
Text included in House Bill 1013 outlines the history lawmakers are using to justify the designation. It notes that Buffalo wings first rose to prominence nationally in the late 20th century and says Atlanta based restaurant J.R. Crickets introduced the style to Georgia in 1982, helping make chicken wings a statewide staple.
The bill says Georgians later developed their own traditions around wings, with lemon pepper emerging as a signature flavor. It highlights popular variations such as Buffalo with lemon pepper sprinkles, lemon pepper wet, all flats, and hot honey lemon pepper.
House Bill 1013 also states that lemon pepper wings “resonate across Georgia communities, transcending race, region, and class,” and points to references from artists including Gucci Mane, Ziggy2Playa, and Rick Ross, along with NBA player Lou Williams’ nickname, “Lemon Pepper Lou,” as examples of the flavor’s broader cultural reach.
If approved, the legislation would formally designate lemon pepper as Georgia’s official chicken wing flavor.
Back in 2024, an Ohio court ruled that boneless wings can have bones inside of them after a customer tore his esophagus on some parmesan wings.
