diff --git a/src/registrar/admin.py b/src/registrar/admin.py
index fd529b652..42d2872a2 100644
--- a/src/registrar/admin.py
+++ b/src/registrar/admin.py
@@ -1742,8 +1742,11 @@ class DomainRequestAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin, ImportExportModelAdmin):
             # Since this check occurs after save, if the user enters a value then
             # we won't update.
             reason_changed = obj.action_needed_reason != original_obj.action_needed_reason
-            if reason_changed and default_email == obj.action_needed_reason_email:
-                obj.action_needed_reason_email = default_email
+            if reason_changed:
+                request.session["action_needed_email_sent"] = True
+                logger.info("added session object")
+                if default_email == obj.action_needed_reason_email:
+                    obj.action_needed_reason_email = default_email
 
         # == Handle status == #
         if obj.status == original_obj.status:
@@ -1953,6 +1956,12 @@ class DomainRequestAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin, ImportExportModelAdmin):
         extra_context["action_needed_reason_emails"] = self.get_all_action_needed_reason_emails_as_json(obj)
         extra_context["has_profile_feature_flag"] = flag_is_active(request, "profile_feature")
 
+        # Denote if an action needed email was sent or not
+        email_sent = request.session.get("action_needed_email_sent", False)
+        extra_context["action_needed_email_sent"] = email_sent
+        if email_sent:
+            email_sent = request.session["action_needed_email_sent"] = False
+
         # Call the superclass method with updated extra_context
         return super().change_view(request, object_id, form_url, extra_context)
 
diff --git a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
index e5aa495f5..07722fdfc 100644
--- a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
+++ b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ function openInNewTab(el, removeAttribute = false){
     }
 };
 
+// Adds or removes a boolean from our session
+function addOrRemoveSessionBoolean(name, add){
+    if (add) {
+        sessionStorage.setItem(name, "true");
+    }else {
+        sessionStorage.removeItem(name); 
+    }
+}
+
 // <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
 // Event handlers.
 
@@ -418,15 +427,6 @@ function initializeWidgetOnList(list, parentId) {
             object.classList.add("display-none");
         }
     }
-
-    // Adds or removes a boolean from our session
-    function addOrRemoveSessionBoolean(name, add){
-        if (add) {
-            sessionStorage.setItem(name, "true");
-        }else {
-            sessionStorage.removeItem(name); 
-        }
-    }
 })();
 
 /** An IIFE for toggling the submit bar on domain request forms
@@ -529,9 +529,12 @@ function initializeWidgetOnList(list, parentId) {
     let actionNeededReasonDropdown = document.querySelector("#id_action_needed_reason");
     let actionNeededEmail = document.querySelector("#id_action_needed_reason_email");
     let actionNeededEmailData = document.getElementById('action-needed-emails-data').textContent;
-    let noEmailMessage = document.getElementById("no-email-message");
-    const emptyReasonText = "-"
-    const noEmailText = "No email will be sent."
+    let noEmailMessage = document.querySelector("#no-email-message");
+    const oldDropdownValue = actionNeededReasonDropdown ? actionNeededReasonDropdown.value : null;
+    const oldEmailValue = actionNeededEmailData ? actionNeededEmailData.value : null;
+    const emptyReasonText = "-";
+    const noEmailText = "No email will be sent.";
+    const domainRequestId = actionNeededReasonDropdown ? document.querySelector("#domain_request_id").value : null
     if(actionNeededReasonDropdown && actionNeededEmail && actionNeededEmailData) {
         // Add a change listener to the action needed reason dropdown 
         handleChangeActionNeededEmail(actionNeededReasonDropdown, actionNeededEmail, actionNeededEmailData);
@@ -548,6 +551,16 @@ function initializeWidgetOnList(list, parentId) {
                 hideElement(actionNeededEmail);
                 showElement(noEmailMessage);
             }
+            
+            let emailWasSent = document.getElementById("action-needed-email-sent")
+            console.log(`email ${emailWasSent.value} vs session ${sessionStorage.getItem("actionNeededEmailSent")} vs id ${domainRequestId}`)
+            if (emailWasSent && emailWasSent.value) {
+                // add the session object
+                if (sessionStorage.getItem(`actionNeededEmailSent-${domainRequestId}`) === null) {
+                    sessionStorage.setItem(`actionNeededEmailSent-${domainRequestId}`, domainRequestId);
+                }
+                actionNeededEmail.readOnly = true
+            }
         });
     }
 
@@ -558,8 +571,6 @@ function initializeWidgetOnList(list, parentId) {
 
             // Show the "no email will be sent" text only if a reason is actually selected.
             noEmailMessage.innerHTML = reason ? noEmailText : emptyReasonText;
-            console.log(`reaso: ${reason} vs in ${reason in actionNeededEmailsJson}`)
-            console.log(noEmailMessage)
             if (reason && reason in actionNeededEmailsJson) {
                 let emailBody = actionNeededEmailsJson[reason];
                 if (emailBody) {
@@ -567,6 +578,17 @@ function initializeWidgetOnList(list, parentId) {
                     actionNeededEmail.value = emailBody
                     showElement(actionNeededEmail);
                     hideElement(noEmailMessage);
+                    
+                    // Reset the session object on change since change refreshes the email content.
+                    // Only do this if we change the action needed reason, or if we:
+                    // change the reason => modify email content => change back to old reason.
+                    if (oldDropdownValue != actionNeededReasonDropdown.value || oldEmailValue != actionNeededEmail.value) {
+                        let emailSent = sessionStorage.getItem(`actionNeededEmailSent-${domainRequestId}`)
+                        if (emailSent !== null){
+                            sessionStorage.removeItem(`actionNeededEmailSent-${domainRequestId}`);
+                        }
+                        actionNeededEmail.readOnly = false;
+                    }
                 }else {
                     // Show the no email message
                     hideElement(actionNeededEmail);
diff --git a/src/registrar/templates/django/admin/includes/detail_table_fieldset.html b/src/registrar/templates/django/admin/includes/detail_table_fieldset.html
index f0ff7be3f..d477b55a7 100644
--- a/src/registrar/templates/django/admin/includes/detail_table_fieldset.html
+++ b/src/registrar/templates/django/admin/includes/detail_table_fieldset.html
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ This is using a custom implementation fieldset.html (see admin/fieldset.html)
     {% if field.field.name == "action_needed_reason_email" %}
         {{ field.field }}
         <p id="no-email-message" class="{% if original_object.action_needed_reason %}display-none{% endif %}">No email will be sent.</p>
+        <input id="action-needed-email-sent" class="display-none" value="{{action_needed_email_sent}}">
     {% else %}
         {{ field.field }}
     {% endif %}