Modifier in if not working, please see code below

val modifier = Modifier
        .preferredWidth(292.dp)
        .preferredHeight(87.dp)
        .clickable(onClick = { selectedItem.value = item })
    if (item == selectedItem.value){
        Timber.i("on item selected ")
        modifier.background(brush = lightHighLightGradient)
    }
    Text(
        modifier = modifier,
        // .padding(start = 35.dp),
        text = stringResource(id = item),
        fontSize = 32.sp,
        textAlign = TextAlign.Center
    )

Modifiers are immutable, so

Modifier.background()

returns new instance, so you either have to make modifier

var

and replace

modifier.background(brush = lightHighLightGradient)

by

modifier = modifier.background(brush = lightHighLightGradient)

, or restructure it in other way.

Thank you so much!