New Georgia bill would give the state its own official chicken wing flavor

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A new bill in Georgia could make lemon pepper the official flavor for chicken wings throughout the state.

Georgia State Representative Eric Bell has introduced House Bill 1013, which recognizes the cultural importance of lemon pepper wings and their connection to Atlanta’s food scene.

Representative Bell explained the bill aims to acknowledge the popularity of lemon pepper wings throughout Georgia. He stated that lemon pepper wings have become a key part of southern cooking in Atlanta and the state as a whole. While the bill is intended to be fun, Bell emphasized its significance, noting that lemon pepper wings are a universally loved food that unites people from all backgrounds.

Lawmakers cite Atlanta restaurants and pop culture

Bell highlighted how lemon pepper wings are a big part of Atlanta’s nightlife and music scene. He explained that from ‘Lemon Pepper Lou’ at Magic City to mentions in popular songs by artists like Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, these wings have been connected to many important people and events in the city and state. He compared their significance to the peach, saying that while the peach represents Georgia’s history in farming, lemon pepper wings represent the state’s unique culture and growing influence around the world.

So, I was reading up on this bill, House Bill 1013, and it’s kinda funny – they’re officially recognizing Buffalo wings as the state food! The bill explains how wings blew up nationally towards the end of the 20th century, and apparently, J.R. Crickets, a restaurant here in Atlanta, brought that whole wing craze to Georgia way back in 1982. They’re saying it’s a big reason why wings are so popular all over the state now. Who am I to argue with that? Wings are life!

According to the bill, people in Georgia created their own unique ways of enjoying chicken wings, and lemon pepper became a particularly popular flavor. It mentions favorites like Buffalo wings with lemon pepper seasoning, lemon pepper wings with sauce (‘wet’), all-flat wings, and hot honey lemon pepper wings.

House Bill 1013 recognizes that lemon pepper wings are incredibly popular throughout Georgia, uniting people from all backgrounds. The bill highlights how artists like Gucci Mane, Ziggy2Playa, and Rick Ross, as well as NBA player Lou Williams (known as “Lemon Pepper Lou”), have all referenced the flavor, demonstrating its widespread cultural impact.

If passed, the new law would make lemon pepper the official flavor for chicken wings in Georgia.

In 2024, an Ohio court made a surprising decision: it ruled that wings labeled “boneless” can legally contain bones. This came after a customer suffered an esophageal injury from eating wings with parmesan and bones.

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2026-01-23 23:49