The Senate Thursday morning approved two bills that would streamline the testing process for marijuana in the state.

Lawmakers approved House Bill 15-1283 on second reading in a voice vote. The bill would require the department of public health and environment to establish a reference library that serves as a guidepost for all marijuana testing in the state by the end of the year.

The proposed legislative fix to testing discrepancies unanimously passed the House on April 17, and it is expected to make its way onto Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk and into law before the end of the session Wednesday.

Sen. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, who signed on to the bill from Rep. Steve Lebsock, D-Thornton, as a Senate sponsor, said on the floor Thursday morning, “Right now, we have [testing] measures people regularly don’t understand.” He called Colorado a worldwide leader in the marijuana industry, a role that would make testing standards all the more important.

“This [bill] is a big one,” said Tyler Henson, the president of the industry advocacy group Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. “If you look at pharmaceutical testing, there are standards in place for how testing should be conducted. That was one thing the marijuana industry was lacking — standardized testing.”

Henson said medical marijuana testing standards are especially important since dose variances could impact patient treatment.

Senators also sent SB 260 over to the House. The bill would implement the same testing requirements that recreational pot has to abide by for medical marijuana.

The mandatory medical marijuana testing would take effect only after HB 1283’s reference library has been set up. Henson expects that might happen substantially faster than by the end of the year.

SB 260 is sponsored by Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, and Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins. It passed on the Senate floor on a 34-1 vote. The only lawmaker opposing the measure Sen. Vicki Marble, R-Fort Collins. She told The Statesman she had voted no because the bill would mean more licensing for the state. SB 260 would create a medical marijuana testing facility license.

The two proposals are part of a total of 18 bills dealing with medical and/or retail marijuana that were introduced during the 2015 session so far.

— lars@coloradostatesman.com & @LarsGesing