| Joe Hoppe | |
| State House: | Minnesota |
| District: | 47B |
| Prior Term: | 34B (2003–2013) |
| Term Start: | January 7, 2003 |
| Term End: | January 8, 2019 |
| Preceded: | Tom Workman (District 43A) |
| Succeeded: | Greg Boe |
| Party: | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Birth Date: | 13 December 1964 |
| Alma Mater: | Saint John's University |
| Occupation: | businessman |
Joseph R. Hoppe (born December 13, 1964) is an American politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 47B, which included portions of Carver County in the southwestern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Before becoming a politician, Hoppe worked as a local businessman and in communications.[1]
Hoppe graduated from Watertown High School in Watertown. Hoppe went on to Saint John's University in Collegeville, earning a BA in History.[1] [2]
Hoppe was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2002, and was re-elected every two years until retiring in 2018. He faced no opposition in 2010, 2012 and 2014.[3] Hoppe is a member of the Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus.[4]
Since 2015, Hoppe has served as chair of the House Commerce & Regulatory Reform Committee.[5] He previously served as the committee chair from 2011–12.[6] Rep. Hoppe also serves as vice-chair of the Life Insurance & Financial Planning Committee in the National Council of Insurance Legislators.[7]
In 2017, Rep. Hoppe authored legislation to provide emergency premium relief in response to the individual health insurance market crisis.[8] [9] The bill included historic reform of Minnesota's insurance laws to increase options and competition for individuals, farmers and small businesses, as well as protect consumers from surprise medical bills.[10] It passed the Minnesota House with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 108–19 and was signed by Governor Mark Dayton.
Rep. Hoppe was the co-author of legislation to ensure women at risk of breast cancer have access to 3D mammograms through insurance, and has advocated for increased state support for mental health programming.[11] [12] He has opposed the state-run MNsure insurance website.[13] [14]
During his tenure as committee chair, Hoppe oversaw major efforts to modernize the state's alcohol laws in response to increasing consumer demand for Minnesota craft beer, spirits and wine.[15] [16] [17]
Hoppe is married to Deanne, a public school administrator, and has two children. He is Catholic.
Hoppe is a long-time member of the Chaska Cubs board of directors, and is a past board member of the McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.[18] [19]
He is a hunter and angler, and participated in the 2011 Governor's Fishing Opener with Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Kurt Zellers and Governor Mark Dayton.[20] He also attended the Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener in 2011 and 2017.[21] [22]
In 2015, Governor Dayton attended Thanksgiving Dinner at the home of Rep. Hoppe.[23]