School officials made another plea Tuesday to make free lunches permanent.

"A free lunch program over the pandemic has been critical in the last few years of the pandemic," said Jessica Weaver, with Newington Board of Education.

School districts asked state budget writers to include funding for free meals. As of now, the money runs out in June.

Lawmakers say they want school districts to pitch in.

"There are some schools that could afford free lunch right now -- that could pay for it -- that choose not to pay for it -- that have the capacity to afford that," said state Sen. Cathy Osten.

Currently, lawmakers are only considering a study on permanent free meals.