Changes

Ballinger won his second term in the House in the general election held on November 4, 2014, a strong year politically in Arkansas for Republican candidates. He defeated the Democratic choice, Charles "Sonny" Carter, 6,234 votes (65 percent) to 3,384 (35 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 97|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=November 24, 2020}}</ref>

Ballinger won his second term in the House in the general election held on November 4, 2014, a strong year politically in Arkansas for Republican candidates. He defeated the Democratic choice, Charles "Sonny" Carter, 6,234 votes (65 percent) to 3,384 (35 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 97|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=November 24, 2020}}</ref>

In February 2015, Ballinger was the author of House Bill 1228, which was designed to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion. The measure passed the House, seventy-two to twenty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=November 24, 2020}</ref> One of the opponents, Representative Camille Williams Bennett]], a former city attorney for Lonoke, Arkansas, called for a reworking of the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlanticbb.net/news/read/category/General/article/the_associated_press-indiana_arkansas_try_to_stem_religious_objections-ap|title=Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar|publisher=Atlantic Broadband|date=April 3, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref> Bennett claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.<ref name=religiousfreedom>{{cite web|url=http://www.fox16.com/story/d/story/opponents-of-religious-freedom-bill-point-out-law/24249/AsrrUGLEdkuquASB01ZrLA|title=Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences|publisher=Fox Channel 16|location=[[Little Rock]], Arkansas|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref> The measure was subsequently signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Republican Governor [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2015/04/02/house-committee-passes-new-rfra-bill-headed-for-full-house/70828864/|title=Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled|publisher=KTHV-TV|location=Little Rock|date=April 2, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref>  

In February 2015, Ballinger was the author of House Bill 1228, which was designed to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion. The measure passed the House, seventy-two to twenty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=November 24, 2020}</ref> One of the opponents, Representative [[Camille Bennett]], a former city attorney for Lonoke, Arkansas, called for a reworking of the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlanticbb.net/news/read/category/General/article/the_associated_press-indiana_arkansas_try_to_stem_religious_objections-ap|title=Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar|publisher=Atlantic Broadband|date=April 3, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref> Bennett claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.<ref name=religiousfreedom>{{cite web|url=http://www.fox16.com/story/d/story/opponents-of-religious-freedom-bill-point-out-law/24249/AsrrUGLEdkuquASB01ZrLA|title=Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences|publisher=Fox Channel 16|location=[[Little Rock]], Arkansas|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref> The measure was subsequently signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Republican Governor [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2015/04/02/house-committee-passes-new-rfra-bill-headed-for-full-house/70828864/|title=Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled|publisher=KTHV-TV|location=Little Rock|date=April 2, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref>  

Ballinger was the Arkansas state co-chairman of the [[U.S. President|presidential]] campaign for [[U.S. Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]] of [[Texas]], whom he hosted on a campaign swing through Arkansas in August 2015. Working with Ballinger in the campaign is former gubernatorial candidate Curtis Coleman, who was defeated in the 2014 primary election by since Governor Hutchinson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/08/11/ted-cruz-announces-arkansas-leadership-team|title=Ted Cruz announces Arkansas leadership team|author=Max Brantley|publisher=''The Arkansas Times''|date=August 11, 2015|accessdate=August 15, 2015}}</ref>

Ballinger was the Arkansas state co-chairman of the [[U.S. President|presidential]] campaign for [[U.S. Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]] of [[Texas]], whom he hosted on a campaign swing through Arkansas in August 2015. Working with Ballinger in the campaign is former gubernatorial candidate Curtis Coleman, who was defeated in the 2014 primary election by since Governor Hutchinson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/08/11/ted-cruz-announces-arkansas-leadership-team|title=Ted Cruz announces Arkansas leadership team|author=Max Brantley|publisher=''The Arkansas Times''|date=August 11, 2015|accessdate=August 15, 2015}}</ref>