diff --git a/app/modules/meeting/router.py b/app/modules/meeting/router.py
index dee1ecd..bee1927 100644
--- a/app/modules/meeting/router.py
+++ b/app/modules/meeting/router.py
@@ -130,14 +130,14 @@ async def get_room(
 @router.get(
     "/{room_code}/participants",
     status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
-    summary="Get live active participants and lobby waiting list (Host only)",
+    summary="Get live active participants and lobby waiting list",
 )
 async def get_live_state(
     room_code: str,
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
     service: MeetingService = Depends(get_meeting_service),
 ) -> JSONResponse:
-    state = await service.get_live_state(host=current_user, room_code=room_code)
+    state = await service.get_live_state(user=current_user, room_code=room_code)
     return JSONResponse(
         content={
             "status": "success",
diff --git a/app/modules/meeting/service.py b/app/modules/meeting/service.py
index c0f39ff..75d1ecb 100644
--- a/app/modules/meeting/service.py
+++ b/app/modules/meeting/service.py
@@ -179,19 +179,16 @@ async def get_room_details(self, room_code: str) -> Room:
 
         return room
 
-    async def get_live_state(self, host: User, room_code: str) -> dict:
-        """Fetch active participant and waiting lobby details. Host only."""
+    async def get_live_state(self, user: User, room_code: str) -> dict:
+        """Fetch active participant and waiting lobby details."""
         room = self.repo.get_room_by_code(room_code)
         if not room:
             raise NotFoundException(message="Room not found.")
 
-        if room.host_id != host.id:
-            raise ForbiddenException(
-                message="Only the host can view live room state payload."
-            )
+        is_host = room.host_id == user.id
 
         active = await self.state.get_participants(room_code)
-        lobby = await self.state.get_lobby(room_code)
+        lobby = await self.state.get_lobby(room_code) if is_host else {}
 
         return {"active": active, "lobby": lobby}
 
@@ -507,6 +504,11 @@ async def admit_user(self, host: User, room_code: str, target_user_id: str) -> N
         if not was_in_lobby:
             raise BadRequestException(message="User is not in the lobby.")
 
+        cm = get_connection_manager()
+        await cm.send_to_user(
+            room_code, target_user_id, {"type": "admitted", "room_code": room_code}
+        )
+
     async def end_room(self, host: User, room_code: str) -> Room:
         """Host forcibly ends the meeting for everyone."""
         room = self.repo.get_room_by_code(room_code)
diff --git a/tests/meeting/test_meeting_router.py b/tests/meeting/test_meeting_router.py
index 4d060f8..899ad43 100644
--- a/tests/meeting/test_meeting_router.py
+++ b/tests/meeting/test_meeting_router.py
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ async def test_host_gets_live_state(
         assert "lobby" in body["data"]
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
-    async def test_non_host_cannot_get_live_state(
+    async def test_non_host_gets_live_state_without_lobby(
         self, client: httpx.AsyncClient, db_session: Session
     ) -> None:
         _seed_user(db_session, email="host@example.com")
@@ -729,7 +729,10 @@ async def test_non_host_cannot_get_live_state(
             f"/api/v1/meetings/{room_code}/participants",
             headers=_auth_headers(other_token),
         )
-        assert resp.status_code == 403
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        body = resp.json()
+        assert "active" in body["data"]
+        assert body["data"]["lobby"] == {}
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/meeting/test_meeting_service.py b/tests/meeting/test_meeting_service.py
index 9e19cd9..e6dc927 100644
--- a/tests/meeting/test_meeting_service.py
+++ b/tests/meeting/test_meeting_service.py
@@ -238,24 +238,28 @@ async def test_returns_active_and_lobby(self) -> None:
         state.get_participants.return_value = {"u1": {"status": "connected"}}
         state.get_lobby.return_value = {"u2": {"display_name": "Guest"}}
 
-        result = await svc.get_live_state(host=host, room_code="ABCDEF123456")
+        result = await svc.get_live_state(user=host, room_code="ABCDEF123456")
 
         assert "active" in result
         assert "lobby" in result
         assert len(result["active"]) == 1
         assert len(result["lobby"]) == 1
 
-    @pytest.mark.asyncio
-    async def test_raises_forbidden_for_non_host(self) -> None:
-        svc, repo, _state = _build_service()
+    async def test_non_host_receives_empty_lobby(self) -> None:
+        svc, repo, state = _build_service()
         host = _make_user()
         other_user = _make_user(email="other@example.com")
         room = _make_room(host_id=host.id)
 
         repo.get_room_by_code.return_value = room
+        state.get_participants.return_value = {"u1": {"status": "connected"}}
+        state.get_lobby.return_value = {"u2": {"display_name": "Guest"}}
 
-        with pytest.raises(ForbiddenException, match="Only the host"):
-            await svc.get_live_state(host=other_user, room_code="ABCDEF123456")
+        result = await svc.get_live_state(user=other_user, room_code="ABCDEF123456")
+
+        assert "active" in result
+        assert result["lobby"] == {}
+        assert len(result["active"]) == 1
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_raises_not_found_for_missing_room(self) -> None:
@@ -264,7 +268,7 @@ async def test_raises_not_found_for_missing_room(self) -> None:
         repo.get_room_by_code.return_value = None
 
         with pytest.raises(NotFoundException):
-            await svc.get_live_state(host=host, room_code="INVALID")
+            await svc.get_live_state(user=host, room_code="INVALID")
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------