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Last week, we celebrated the first birthday of our new health-care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and that's good news for New Jersey small businesses.

Over the coming months, New Jersey small-business owners and consumers should be excited about the implementation of health-care reform, including two cost-saving provisions: small-business tax credits and the statewide health insurance exchange.

One owner ready for health-care progress is Becky Large, the president of Largie LLC, a marketing company based in Riverton. Ms. Large provides health care for herself, one other full-time employee and her special-needs child. Last year, she spent $800 per month on premiums, and this year, the cost has already jumped to $1,100 per month. With the added costs of deductibles and copays, Ms. Large spent more than $20,000 last year on health care.

Thanks to the new law, Ms. Large and other small-business owners can look forward to relief in the form of small-business tax credits. When filing taxes this April, small-business owners will be able to submit the new Form 8941 to apply for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their health-care premiums. This should let small businesses hire more employees and provide them with health care.

Although Ms. Large loves the independence of running her own business, she's at a disadvantage in the health-care marketplace. Because she purchases health insurance for only two employees, insurance providers have no incentive to give her a competitive price; not only are her rates excessive, they are unpredictable. The current setup of the health-care marketplace penalizes innovators who start their own businesses.

Yet this could all be about to change. Our state Legislature has the chance to establish a new competitive health insurance marketplace, or exchange, where small businesses, the self-employed and individual consumers can pool their bargaining power and make insurers compete for their business.

Designed correctly, the exchange will be a powerful advocate for small businesses and consumers. By setting strong standards, it will push insurers to adopt reforms that will lower cost and improve patient health. Small businesses will be able to choose the plan that works best for them, using standardized rankings of plan quality and cost.

However, just as powerful special interests tried to throw their weight around in Washington, D.C., last year, they've now come to Trenton to try to do the same. The critical fight over whether the voices of small businesses and consumers will be heard is going on right now.

So, celebrate the first anniversary of the ACA: First, by getting your tax credit, and second, by encouraging your legislators to support the consumer-friendly exchange that our small businesses and consumers need.