William J. Hilty (born November 2, 1938) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 8A, which includes portions of Carlton, Pine and St. Louis counties in the northeastern part of the state.

He later attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, finishing the coursework for a PhD in 1970 but did not complete a dissertation.

[4] Hilty was a partner in Sawhill Incorporated from 1971–1978, and has been president of Minnesota Panel Systems since 1978.

Active in his local community, he served on the Finlayson School Board from 1986–1989, and is a member of the Greater Minnesota Coalition, of the Midwest Progressive Elected Officials Network, of the Right to be Rural Coalition, and of the National Conferences of State Legislatures.

He is also a board member of the Northern Technology Initiative and of the Audubon Society of the Northwoods.