diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
index 632a16474..5740d9504 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
@@ -598,6 +598,7 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
     def _cache_status_and_action_needed_reason(self):
         """Maintains a cache of properties so we can avoid a DB call"""
         self._cached_action_needed_reason = self.action_needed_reason
+        self._cached_action_needed_reason_email = self.action_needed_reason_email
         self._cached_status = self.status
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -614,7 +615,8 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
 
         # Handle the action needed email. We send one when moving to action_needed,
         # but we don't send one when we are _already_ in the state and change the reason.
-        self.sync_action_needed_reason()
+        if self.status == self.DomainRequestStatus.ACTION_NEEDED and self.action_needed_reason:
+            self.sync_action_needed_reason()
 
         # Update the cached values after saving
         self._cache_status_and_action_needed_reason()
@@ -624,7 +626,8 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
         was_already_action_needed = self._cached_status == self.DomainRequestStatus.ACTION_NEEDED
         reason_exists = self._cached_action_needed_reason is not None and self.action_needed_reason is not None
         reason_changed = self._cached_action_needed_reason != self.action_needed_reason
-        if was_already_action_needed and (reason_exists and reason_changed):
+        reason_email_changed = self._cached_action_needed_reason_email != self.action_needed_reason_email
+        if was_already_action_needed and (reason_exists and reason_changed or reason_email_changed):
             # We don't send emails out in state "other"
             if self.action_needed_reason != self.ActionNeededReasons.OTHER:
                 self._send_action_needed_reason_email(email_content=self.action_needed_reason_email)
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_admin.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_admin.py
index c100477a6..22bdc8558 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_admin.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_admin.py
@@ -1376,7 +1376,9 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
             self.assertContains(response, "status in [submitted,in review,action needed]", count=1)
 
     @less_console_noise_decorator
-    def transition_state_and_send_email(self, domain_request, status, rejection_reason=None, action_needed_reason=None):
+    def transition_state_and_send_email(
+        self, domain_request, status, rejection_reason=None, action_needed_reason=None, action_needed_reason_email=None
+    ):
         """Helper method for the email test cases."""
 
         with boto3_mocking.clients.handler_for("sesv2", self.mock_client):
@@ -1392,6 +1394,9 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
             if action_needed_reason:
                 domain_request.action_needed_reason = action_needed_reason
 
+            if action_needed_reason_email:
+                domain_request.action_needed_reason_email = action_needed_reason_email
+
             # Use the model admin's save_model method
             self.admin.save_model(request, domain_request, form=None, change=True)
 
@@ -1481,13 +1486,27 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
 
         # Tests if an analyst can override existing email content
         questionable_so = DomainRequest.ActionNeededReasons.QUESTIONABLE_SENIOR_OFFICIAL
-        domain_request.action_needed_reason_email = "custom email content"
-        domain_request.save()
-        self.transition_state_and_send_email(domain_request, action_needed, action_needed_reason=questionable_so)
+        self.transition_state_and_send_email(
+            domain_request,
+            action_needed,
+            action_needed_reason=questionable_so,
+            action_needed_reason_email="custom email content",
+        )
 
         self.assert_email_is_accurate("custom email content", 4, EMAIL, bcc_email_address=BCC_EMAIL)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.mock_client.EMAILS_SENT), 5)
 
+        # Tests if a new email gets sent when just the email is changed
+        self.transition_state_and_send_email(
+            domain_request,
+            action_needed,
+            action_needed_reason=questionable_so,
+            action_needed_reason_email="dummy email content",
+        )
+
+        self.assert_email_is_accurate("dummy email content", 5, EMAIL, bcc_email_address=BCC_EMAIL)
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.mock_client.EMAILS_SENT), 6)
+
     def test_save_model_sends_submitted_email(self):
         """When transitioning to submitted from started or withdrawn on a domain request,
         an email is sent out.