diff --git a/src/registrar/admin.py b/src/registrar/admin.py
index 6776b8834..57b86394c 100644
--- a/src/registrar/admin.py
+++ b/src/registrar/admin.py
@@ -1637,6 +1637,10 @@ class DomainRequestAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin, ImportExportModelAdmin):
             return super().save_model(request, obj, form, change)
 
         # == Handle non-status changes == #
+        # Change this in #1901. Add a check on "not self.action_needed_reason_email"
+        if obj.action_needed_reason:
+            self._handle_action_needed_reason_email(obj)
+            should_save = True
 
         # Get the original domain request from the database.
         original_obj = models.DomainRequest.objects.get(pk=obj.pk)
@@ -1645,14 +1649,17 @@ class DomainRequestAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin, ImportExportModelAdmin):
             return super().save_model(request, obj, form, change)
 
         # == Handle status changes == #
-
         # Run some checks on the current object for invalid status changes
         obj, should_save = self._handle_status_change(request, obj, original_obj)
 
-        # We should only save if we don't display any errors in the step above.
+        # We should only save if we don't display any errors in the steps above.
         if should_save:
             return super().save_model(request, obj, form, change)
 
+    def _handle_action_needed_reason_email(self, obj):
+        text = self._get_action_needed_reason_default_email_text(obj, obj.action_needed_reason)
+        obj.action_needed_reason_email = text.get("email_body_text")
+
     def _handle_status_change(self, request, obj, original_obj):
         """
         Checks for various conditions when a status change is triggered.
diff --git a/src/registrar/migrations/0105_domainrequest_action_needed_reason_email.py b/src/registrar/migrations/0105_domainrequest_action_needed_reason_email.py
deleted file mode 100644
index b58e837f7..000000000
--- a/src/registrar/migrations/0105_domainrequest_action_needed_reason_email.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-# Generated by Django 4.2.10 on 2024-06-20 18:04
-
-from django.db import migrations, models
-
-
-class Migration(migrations.Migration):
-
-    dependencies = [
-        ("registrar", "0104_create_groups_v13"),
-    ]
-
-    operations = [
-        migrations.AddField(
-            model_name="domainrequest",
-            name="action_needed_reason_email",
-            field=models.TextField(blank=True, null=True),
-        ),
-    ]
diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
index b44ceb678..2190810bb 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
@@ -597,10 +597,8 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Save override for custom properties"""
-
         self.sync_organization_type()
         self.sync_yes_no_form_fields()
-        self.sync_action_needed_reason_email()
 
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
@@ -611,13 +609,6 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
         # Update the cached values after saving
         self._cache_status_and_action_needed_reason()
 
-    def sync_action_needed_reason_email(self):
-        """If no action_needed_reason_email is defined, add a default one"""
-        # Change this in #1901. Add a check on "not self.action_needed_reason_email"
-        if self.action_needed_reason:
-            text = self.get_action_needed_reason_default_email_text(self.action_needed_reason)
-            self.action_needed_reason_email = text.get("email_body_text")
-
     def sync_action_needed_reason(self):
         """Checks if we need to send another action needed email"""
         was_already_action_needed = self._cached_status == self.DomainRequestStatus.ACTION_NEEDED
@@ -851,7 +842,6 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
                 # Unknown and other are default cases - do nothing
                 can_send_email = False
 
-        # TODO - replace this logic with self.action_needed_reason_email in #1901.
         # Assumes that the template name matches the action needed reason if nothing is specified.
         # This is so you can override if you need, or have this taken care of for you.
         if not email_template_name and not email_template_subject_name: